Karat Content

Pure or fine gold is 24 Karat. 18 Karat means 18 parts of 24 are pure gold, mixed with 6 parts of other metal. 14 karat gold means 14 parts of 24 are pure gold, mixed with 10 parts of other metal.

 

Alloy

Gold is mixed or alloyed with one or more other metals to produce optimum strength and color characteristics. Alloys used are: Copper, Silver for yellow color Nickel or Palladium, Zinc, Copper for white color Silver, Copper, Zinc for green color Copper for pink color.

In the United States, 10 karat gold is the minimum legal standard. A Karat mark along with a registered U.S. trademark will assure the specified quality of a gold item.

 

Gold Weight

1 pennyweight = 1.5552 grams

20 pennyweight = 1ounce = 31.1035 grams

 

Manufacturing Techniques

Casting: forcing molten metal into a wax or porcelain mold.

Die-striking/stamping: pressing out the desired shape on a gold sheet under pressure by using steel dies.

Electroforming: immersing a wax mold into gold solution, then electroplating to a proper thickness, vacuuming out the wax to form the desired shape, to achieve a light weight uniformity.

 

Finishes

High-polish:	Bright, shiny, highly reflective
Satin:	Light, parallel lines with soft tone
Matte:	Velvet-like without shine
Etched:	Patterns cut into surface
Brushed:	Satin-like finish produced by stiff metal brush
Florentine:	Crisscross lines
Diamond cut:	Faceted, bright look with tiny, angled cuts
Filigree:	Fine wires surrounded by a framework of gold
Enameled:	used glass onto metal surface
Embossed:	An elevated relief on metal