When buying gold jewellery, the first thing that one should look for is the karat mark. This determines where the gold is in fact real and gives the percentage of pure gold it contains. It is known that pure gold, which is 24 karat, is of a rich colour. However, it is quite weak and is prone to being damaged.
Quite often, gold is combined with other precious metals such as silver or Zinc. This is because it adds additional pillars of strength and further durability. In terms of gold values:
24 Karat is 100% (pure gold)
18 Karat is 75%
14 Karat is 58.5%
10 Karat is 41.6%
The higher the karat the more expensive the product will be. In addition to this, other things determine the price of gold jewellery:
Overall weight
Design
Detailing
The more manual handwork involved in the production of gold jewellery products, the more expensive they will be to purchase.
If buying a gold necklace and/or bracelet, it is advisable that the clasp is examined. This is to make sure that it is strong enough to support the chain itself. Be sure to check that it has been well structured and feels secure.
