A symbol for strength, wealth and power, gold is the most coveted metal on the planet. Designers love working with gold because of its great number of possibilities and creative options. Knowing a few basic facts about gold can help you to select the jewelry most appropriate for you and can keep you from becoming a scam artist victim.

What are carats?

Pure gold is soft, yet durable enough for everyday wear. Many people choose a piece of jewelry according to its percentage of solid gold. For example, if inside or on a piece of jewelry you see a marking that reads 10ct, youll want to know what that means. The ct stands for carat, the system used to measure the percentage of pure gold in a piece. To say that a piece is 10ct is to mean that it is 10 parts gold and 14 parts of another type of metal or a metal mixture. This means that 10ct gold jewelry is made up of 41.7% gold. 12ct gold is 50% pure gold; 14ct gold is 58.3% gold, 18c is 75% gold, and 24ct, or pure gold. Authentic jewelry always has its carat rating stamped into it.

What about that other metal in your gold jewelry?

The other metals in your piece impact its coloring, its durability and its design. Mixing other metals with gold produces an alloy. The alloy process is used to change the color of gold jewelry. For example, mixing gold with copper produces a rose tint. Other mixtures can produce strong to pale shades of yellow, green, and even blue.

Avoiding skin irritation

Gold, in itself, is not known to irritate the skin, but some of the metal mixtures can certainly cause problems. For this reason, experts recommend that those with sensitive skin purchase gold jewelry pieces of at least 18 carats.

Are there alternatives to solid gold?

Gold-plated jewelry is substantially cheaper than gold but can pull off the same exquisite look. The only drawback is that it can tarnish or fade with routine wear. Choose gold-plated items that go with certain outfits, not to wear on a regular basis. For daily wear, your best bet is to go with solid gold.