Modern rose gold is created by alloying yellow gold (gold’s natural color) with copper. Although rose gold is often interchangeably described as “rose,” “red,” or “pink” gold, these terms actually describe different proportions of gold to copper and their resulting shades.
While both gold-plated and gold-filled items are typically less expensive than solid gold items, there is a significant difference of durability between the two.
Gold consumption can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians who credited the metal with metaphysical and healing powers. In fact, many believe our enduring obsession with gold began with the Egyptians some 5,000 years ago. Often associated with Eternity, gold, or “the skin of the gods,” held deep spiritual value for the Egyptians.
Usually gold jewelry is stamped with its karat amount, but polishing, repair, and wear can efface the stamp. Fortunately, there are a few reliable ways to determine the karats or your piece.
The story of the gold standard (and paper money) begins with ancient goldsmiths, who we may think of as the original bankers. During a time when precious metals were used in everyday economic exchange, people would store any gold they didn’t need at the moment with the goldsmith, who, in turn, would issue the clients a paper receipt indicating the amount of gold they had in storage.
More than jewelry’s favorite metal, gold serves many fascinating functions. Gold, in fact, is edible, and you may see gold leaf floating in the champagne at a fancy wedding. (We’ll toast to that!) Those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have experienced consuming gold in a less festive setting, however. For roughly 75 years, gold has been used to treat RA