Ancient Egyptians, Christopher Columbus, and even the mythical Midas are all connected to Gold. For its mystic appearance, undeniable beauty, and immense value, Gold has been and continues to be one of the most desired materials in the world. The precious material won’t rust, corrode, or tarnish – no doubt adding to its allure.

In its pure state, Gold is surprisingly soft – part of the reason why Gold initially became a prime choice for jewelry; too soft for tools or weapons, Gold is malleable enough to be melted down and reshaped over and over again. In fact, one ounce of pure gold is pliable enough to be stretched into 50 miles of fine wire!

Because Gold is so soft, is has to be mixed with other metals to help hold its shape. For classic Yellow Gold, the metal is mixed with various amounts of silver, copper and zinc. For a more modern look, White Gold is mixed with nickel, copper and zinc. Then, to keep the shine, White Gold has a coat of rhodium layered on the outside. If you like the look of White Gold, but have skin that is sensitive to nickel, Platinum Jewelry is an excellent option.

Whereas Carat refers to the Weight of a Diamond, Karat refers to the percentage of pure Gold in the metal.

• Pure Gold, also known as 24k Gold, is too soft for daily jewelry wear.
• Gold, which contains 75% Gold, is predominantly used in very fine jewelry. Melrose Jewelers uses Gold in all its Gold jewelry.
• 14k Gold, 58.3% Gold, is found in the majority of Gold jewelry, but is not as valuable and does not produce as fine a shine as Gold.
• 12k (50% Gold) and 10k (41.7% Gold) are not acceptable for fine jewelry. It is illegal to call anything with a lower percentage of Gold than 10k "real gold" in the United States.

Gold’s massive appeal continues to make it a favorite for wedding bands, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. With proper care, you can proudly wear your Gold jewelry from Melrose Jewelers for many years to come.