What You Should Keep in Mind When Purchasing Gold Rings

Never out of style, gold is a perfect symbol of timeless luxury. Whether you are asking someone’s hand in marriage or simply adding to your jewellery collection, it is important that you know exactly what to look for when shopping around for something as precious as a gold ring. Here are some things you should keep in mind when in the market for gold rings:

• Karat is the standard unit that is used to define both the purity and fineness of gold. It signifies what percentage of gold was used in a gold product. In its purest form, a gold product is 24 parts gold (24-karats). 24-karat gold is soft and pliable. It is also the kind of gold used in gold bars and coins. To make gold tougher, more durable, and thus more jewellery grade, other metals are added to the mix. 22-karat gold, for instance, is 2 parts zinc, silver, and some other alloy, and only 22 parts gold. As the karat grade decreases so does the amount of gold present in the jewellery.

• Combining gold with other alloys gives it a unique tinge. Pure gold has a characteristic yellow colour, whereas mixing in silver or palladium turns it into white gold. Rose gold (or pink gold) is created by mixing copper and gold. Two-tone rings are also very common, which is ideal for those who can’t decide on a single type of gold.

• Depending on how you intend the ring to be worn (daily or on occasion), it is important that you consider the softness of the gold you are buying. This is to avoid wear and tear of the metal. A thick ring band is advised for daily use as this makes durable gold rings in Melbourne Pure gold isn’t ideal nor practical for daily wear, which is why other alloys are added to it to make rings more durable, as well as to lower their cost. Solid gold is used to describe rings or any other gold item that is at least 10 karats.

• Along with the karat grade, your gold ring (or any other type of gold jewellery) must also be accompanied by a trademark or hallmark, which identifies the maker. A hallmark certifies that the gold product has been tested for its gold content before it went into the market. This said, some older jewellery (from over a century ago) will not have a gold hallmark, as the system wasn’t put in place until recently.

About the Author:

The range of jewellery at Ixtlan Melbourne Jewellery is hand selected and carefully chosen with the same enthusiasm and passion as in its beginning over two decades ago. Our collections come from diverse places across the globe; Mexico, Israel, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Turkey to name a few. We have a beautiful and unusual collection of designer gemstone jewellery that has a classy, elegant and unique style that can't be found in any other jewellery shop in Melbourne.

The range of jewellery at Ixtlan Melbourne Jewellery is hand selected and carefully chosen with the same enthusiasm and passion as in its beginning over two decades ago.