GOLD: PRECIOUS METAL FOR YOUR JEWELRY

THE GOLD

Several questions come to mind when you decide to buy a gold jewel: Is gold a durable metal? Affordable? Resistant over time? Is the quality of gold the same everywhere? What changes depending on the different colors of gold? Is gold a precious metal that can be worn daily on an engagement ring for example?

GOLD HISTORY

The history of gold dates back to - 5,000 A.V. BC. It was little used at the time, as it is a difficult metal to work with and our ancestors did not have all our knowledge on the subject. Gold then became a currency thanks to King Croesus.

Gold spreads around the world thanks to international trade. Gold then becomes a currency of exchange. Monetary gold circulated until 1973.

Gold has always represented power, ultimate power, and the sign of divine power. It is a strong sign and has a strong connotation.

Every king, every emperor, every pharaoh, and every maharaja owned a lot of gold and put gold everywhere they could. Gold becomes the most precious metal in the world thanks to its fame and strong symbolism.

WHAT IS GOLD USED FOR?

Gold, in its natural state, is found in the form of nuggets. Gold nuggets have led to gold rushes: The most famous was in the American West.

Gold cannot be artificial. It is necessarily natural, it is not manufactured. It is found exclusively in nature.

Gold is almost impossible to counterfeit, it is used for coins. Since gold could not be copied, there was no danger of having counterfeit money in circulation.

Gold can also be found in the form of flakes or powder.

WHY IS GOLD SPECIAL COMPARED TO OTHER METALS?

● Gold is unalterable, it resists oxidation and corrosion. Few chemicals can attack gold. It also has the advantage of not rusting.

● Gold can be preserved for millennia. That's why we can find gold objects that have spent hundreds of years underwater or underground without being damaged. Gold remains imperturbable in these conditions. Even after spending hundreds of years underwater, gold will not have lost its quality and its color will always be the same.

● Gold has an advantage for jewelry: this metal can be remelted infinitely without ever losing its value and quality.

Gold is very malleable, it is said to be ductile, which is the ability to deform without breaking. A ductile metal is ideal for shaping small objects with sometimes technical shapes like jewelry.

Fun fact: Pure gold is so ductile and malleable that you can make a gold leaf less than a millimeter thick without it breaking! This corresponds to the thickness of a hair. Thanks to this particularity, gold is regularly used to cover picture frames, make gold leaves...

THE DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF GOLD?

The different qualities of gold are 9 carat, 14 carat, 18 carat or 24 carat gold.

The term carat is used for gold and precious stones. But it does not have the same meaning.

The carat for a stone corresponds to its weight, that is to say its mass. 1 carat for a diamond corresponds to 0.20 g.

The karat for a metal corresponds to its fineness. That is, the percentage of pure gold in the alloy. In jewelry, we cannot use pure gold, because it is too malleable and the jewel would deform or would not be resistant to shocks, but we use an alloy to strengthen it.

The main legal titles in force are:
● 999 thousandths gold corresponds to 24 carats and is composed of 99.9% pure gold
● 916 thousandths gold corresponds to 22 carats and is composed of 91.6% pure gold
● 833 thousandths gold corresponds to 20 carats and is composed of 83.3% pure gold
● 750 thousandths gold corresponds to 18 carats and is composed of 75% pure gold
● 585 thousandths gold corresponds to 14 carats and is composed of 58.5% pure gold
● 375 thousandths gold corresponds to 9 carats and is composed of 37.5% pure gold
At Celinni, we use 750 thousandths or 18 carat gold to ensure exceptional quality, your jewel will be 75% pure. This is the quality that the major jewelry houses use. This legal title is standardized, the percentage must be the same everywhere for anyone who uses this title.

24 carat gold is the purest possible quality of gold, but we cannot use this fineness of gold in jewelry, because it is too malleable and more subject to shocks. 18 carat gold is more shock resistant thanks to its alloy, it is a more robust quality for jewelry.

9 or 14 carat gold are less precious than 18 carat gold for example. They are common for lower quality jewelry.

THE PRICE OF GOLD

For consumers, this sometimes means looking for more affordable alternatives. Gold, a symbol of wealth and prestige, becomes an unattainable luxury for many, prompting some to turn to other materials for their jewelry.

Yet, despite these challenges, gold retains its timeless appeal. Its shine and durability still make it a popular choice for jewelry pieces intended to mark special moments in life.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A GOLD JEWEL?

There are several techniques to determine if a piece of jewelry is made of gold.

The so-called administrative technique allows you to check the type of metal and its concentration of precious material using hallmarks. This is then referred to as the metal's fineness.

The scientific technique allows you to accurately determine the quality and concentration of the gold using reactive acids and a touchstone.

TO RECOGNIZE GOLD: THE HALLMARK

The hallmark allows you to have a first idea about the composition of a manufactured gold work. There are different types of hallmarks depending on the gold concentration of the jewelry.

In France, all gold jewelry over 3 g must be stamped to certify that it is gold. Stamps cannot be applied to jewelry less than 3 g, as this risks bending and/or deforming them. The stamp is a quality guarantee of a piece of jewelry, it is not a defect. It's a bit like the label of a gold piece of jewelry. The gold stamp is an eagle's head. You can find it on all our gold jewelry. It guarantees exceptional quality.

750 thousandths gold is the best balance between quality and hardness. That's why we exclusively use this gold draw. Maximum purity and maximum resistance. It is the most resistant metal used in jewelry. Thanks to this draw, we guarantee an extremely durable piece of jewelry.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE GOLD USING ACIDS?

The ethical jewelry of the celinni

We are committed to offering you ethical and responsible gold jewelry. To limit the environmental impact on gold extraction, but also on our diamonds and precious stones. Our gold comes from recycling.

Yellow gold:
It is the reference in terms of gold and particularly in jewelry. An emblematic and symbolic color.
This gold is suitable for everyday wear jewelry. Very resistant, it can easily withstand daily minor shocks.
Yellow gold resists corrosion very well: durable over time, it goes through centuries, is passed on without damage. We recommend yellow gold for a piece of jewelry worn daily like a wedding ring or an engagement ring.
It is a reference metal because of its very particular color. A color that is known to all and is very quickly identifiable. It is an emblematic color.
● The yellow of gold is very shiny after being polished.
● Yellow gold will never lose its color over time, because it is its natural color. The color cannot fade unlike white gold. It has become a reference.

At Celinni, IS GOLD RECYCLED?

The ethical jewelry of the celinni

Yellow gold:
It is the reference in terms of gold and particularly in jewelry. An emblematic and symbolic color.
This gold is suitable for everyday jewelry. Very resistant, it can easily withstand daily minor shocks.
Yellow gold resists corrosion very well: durable over time, it goes through centuries, is passed on without damage. We recommend yellow gold for everyday jewelry such as a wedding ring or an engagement ring.
It is a reference metal because of its particular color. A color that is known to all and is very quickly identifiable. It is an emblematic color.
● The yellow of gold is very shiny after being polished.
● Yellow gold will never lose its color over time, because it is its natural color. The color cannot fade unlike white gold. It has become a reference.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YELLOW GOLD AND ROSE GOLD

It's simply a matter of color. Rose gold is yellow gold with a higher percentage of copper. Rose gold has a slightly brown color with coppery reflections.

We give you some tips to match your yellow gold jewelry with a precious stone. Yellow gold is a colored metal, so not all combinations are always harmonious.

Yellow gold goes very well with sapphire, diamond, tanzanite, ruby... But it doesn't go as well with pastel colors like aquamarine or tourmaline. With these stones, yellow gold is too bright and fades the subtle colors of these stones.

The downside of yellow gold could be that it is considered too classic or too traditional. Even though yellow gold jewelry is coming back into fashion, this color is associated with older and less modern jewelry.

PINK GOLD

More modern than yellow gold and more discreet, its color is less intense. Rose gold has many similarities with yellow gold. Rose gold has all the same properties as yellow gold only the color is different. To obtain rose gold, the percentage of copper is increased on a base of yellow gold to about 20%.

Rose gold is simply yellow gold with a higher percentage of copper. As the color change is only due to a greater addition of copper, rose gold will never lose its color over time.

Which stone combination to choose?

Rose gold enhances stones such as tanzanite, tourmaline, aquamarine or diamond. It is more difficult to combine rose gold with emerald, tsavorite, topaz or sapphire. Rose gold is sublime on all skin types. Its disadvantage could be that it does not pair with all precious stones.

WHITE GOLD

White gold is rhodium-plated gold. The gold is covered with a thin layer of metal, called rhodium, to give it its white color.

The rhodium plating process: On yellow gold, silver and copper are added to the alloy to give it a gray appearance. Then, rhodium plating is done, which involves depositing a thin layer of a then liquid metal called rhodium using a special bath. This will turn the gold white when it was previously gray.

White gold can be worn daily, it is resistant to shocks, and resists corrosion.

White gold has a timeless color that transcends eras and fashions. Thanks to its immaculate white.

White gold patinas over time due to friction and shocks.

The rhodium will fade over time and reveal the color of the metal underneath. It is possible to re-rhodium plate when the white gold loses its shine. The metal, when it patinas, will become less shiny, more matte and can become gray-yellow. The patina occurs more often towards the palm of the hand for a ring, it is the side of the ring in contact with the skin due to the acidity of the skin, but also, it is an area subject to friction (bags, handles, cup, steering wheel).

If the metal patinas, it is a natural phenomenon and it does not mean that the gold is of poor quality. It is simply a sign of wear of the metal. This does not mean that your metal is not gold. If you wear your jewelry regularly, it will inevitably show signs of wear.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GOLD JEWELRY?

Gold is an easy-to-maintain precious metal and it only requires a simple action for it to regain all its shine. Take your gold jewelry and place it in a container of hot water to which a little dish soap or soapy water will be added. Leave the jewelry in the container for at least ten minutes, then rinse it with warm water. Finally, dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.

For the most difficult to clean gold jewelry, it is possible to restore all their shine by cleaning them with a used soft toothbrush and an ultrasonic bath. The bristles of the toothbrush will thus be able to clean every nook and cranny and after a rinse, a drying with a soft cloth, the jewelry will be like new. We perform this operation free of charge for you in our workshops when the jewelry comes from our House.