One of the most common questions we receive is which metal, platinum or gold, is better for investment purposes. Well, the quick answer is that gold is a great investment option due to its natural softness and resistance to corrosion and rust. Gold ranks high among the physical properties that matter in jewelry and its value has been steadily increasing over time, making Investment in Gold a great choice for those looking to diversify their portfolios. Although it is very strong, gold is the most malleable of all metals. Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of everyday use, so it combines with different alloys to give it strength and durability.
These alloys include metals such as silver, copper, nickel and zinc. The carat weight of gold is indicated by a number, followed by a “k” or “kt”, which indicates how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. The minimum legal standard for karatage in the U.S. UU.
Despite the fact that 24 carats is pure gold, it is extremely soft and is not recommended for jewelry. The metallurgical properties of copper also improve the durability of gold, hence its use in the manufacture of gold alloys. Metals such as copper will increase the strength of gold, making it less ductile and easier to use in jewelry making. However, when pure gold is mixed with other metals, its hardness level jumps to between 3.5 and 4, making solid gold alloys have the same level of hardness as platinum and some other “harder” metals.
Metallurgy: The main reason why metals such as copper are used to bleach and harden pure gold is due to the metallurgical properties of that metal. This gold color has become popular because it favors pale skin and certain gemstone colors, especially the recently popular pink diamonds. Pure gold isn't (often) used in jewelry, and even when it is used, the resulting 24-karat gold jewelry is quite soft and at high risk of damage. Adding other metals to gold is essential because the best gold jewelry must withstand constant wear and tear and also be elegant and versatile.
This also translates into a reduction in the carat of gold, since lower carat gold alloys are stronger and harder. This scale measures the ease with which minerals are scratched compared to other minerals on Earth and, according to research carried out, pure gold is quite soft and only scores 2.5 on this mineral hardness scale from 0 to 10. Talc is one of the softest minerals on Earth, while diamonds rank 10th because it is one of the hardest elements on the planet. Keep in mind that the metals added to gold will determine the type of gold that forms and its color. With this in mind, jewelers alloy pure gold with different metals to create alloys that are stronger and ideal for creating durable jewelry.
Therefore, to remedy this, pure gold is mixed with other metals that not only create a more beautiful gold color, but also make gold much more durable, stronger and therefore able to withstand everyday wear and tear. Being ten times harder than 18-carat gold and scratch-resistant, tungsten carbide rings have qualities that no other men's jewelry can offer. When white metals such as nickel, zinc or palladium are added to yellow gold, the intense yellow of pure gold begins to bleach.
