OUR PRECIOUS METALS

WHAT IS 18 CTS OR 750 THOUSAND GOLD?

 

Indeed, contrary to what one might think, we do not use pure gold (also called 24 carat) in jewelry because it would be too soft to be worked properly.
 

So,750 thousandths gold - or 18 cts - designates a mixture of 75% fine gold (i.e. pure gold) and 25% other metals like silver and copper which will harden the alloy. It is this proportion (what we call the “title” in technical language) which gives its name to 750 thousandths gold.
 

There are also other materials used in jewelry: 14-karat gold and 9-karat gold. These have a lower proportion of pure gold in the alloy: 37% in the case of 9 carat gold and 58.5% in the case of 14 carat gold. Less expensive, their performance is however less good over time. This explains that18 ct gold represents the perfect balance between strength and hardness and makes it the reference metal in jewelry for decades.

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1. White gold, g goldlaugh, whatis it different?

 

To begin, let's remember that gold is a very malleable metal, too much to be used pure in jewelry. Other metals are therefore added to harden it. And it is these metals that cause the color of gold to vary.

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So,Yellow gold is composed of 75% gold, 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper. For white gold, the proportion of silver in the alloy is increased: 75% gold, 15% copper, 6% silver and 2% nickel. As for white gold… it’s gray gold! On which a thin film of rhodium was applied. This is how we obtain a “whiter” shine. But since it is a surface treatment, the rhodium plating fades with time and friction. In this case, just go to your jeweler (Artero Jewelry Jewelry for example) to apply a layer of rhodium.

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But there is another technique that allows you to obtain white gold: palladium-plated white gold. The alloy of this gold obviously contains pure gold, silver (5%), copper (7%) and palladium, a metal from the platinum family (13%). Unlike rhodium-plated white gold, it will not yellow. On the other hand, you can also add rhodium for even more shine. Not rhodium-plated, palladium-plated white gold has a rougher, warmer tone.

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2. The advantages of palladium-plated white gold

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Palladium-plated white gold is not only characterized by its color.Palladium is a precious, noble metal. It is also a harder and more durable metal.

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Furthermore, rhodium plating is not necessary but it is possible. If the color of your jewelry changes, all it will take is polishing without chemical agents to restore its shine. However, you can also choose to perform rhodium plating to give it a brighter, more “white” appearance.

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So, palladium-plated white gold, a revolution? To tell you the truth, we have chosen to systematically offer this alloy since the 2000s, we have replaced “classic” white gold for quite a while!