Tag: jewelry
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What is my necklace made of?
Jewelry metals can take many forms as makers and designers are constantly experimenting with new mediums to express their ideas. It’s always a good idea to read the description when viewing jewelry online as that is usually where you will find information on the material of construction. This is important as an informed consumer because…
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What is Gold Plating?
Gold plating……sometimes we hear that term and images of gaudy, poor quality jewelry just seconds away from turning green comes to mind. However, that’s far from the whole story. Gold plating, when done in the correct way, allows consumers to experience the rich color and luster of gold jewelry, but at a fraction of the…
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What is Gold?
Think for a moment back to high school chemistry class. It has been longer for some of us than others, but try and recall the periodic table. Here is picture of one to refresh your memory. Gold, Au, sits in the periodic table as element 79 and is a transition metal. We will not get…
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What is Fine Jewelry?
Fine jewelry is traditionally considered to be items made of precious metals and precious or semi-precious stones. To be considered precious, the metal must be rare, naturally occurring and high value. Precious metals are typically less reactive than other metals, meaning they don’t undergo significant chemical changes with coming in contact with air, skin and…
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What is 14k Gold?
Gold jewelry is always identified with a quality mark in order to let you know how much pure gold it contains. As we’ve discussed in prior posts, gold is mined and then refined into it’s “pure” form which is usually 99.9% gold. This is considered to be pure gold and is designated as 24 karat. …
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What is a Gold Alloy?
Alloying refers to the mixing together of two or more metals and is usually done to improve the mechanical properties of the metal. Mechanical properties refer to how much you can bend, stretch, scratch or break a particular metal or allow. Jewelry metals like gold, silver and platinum are relatively soft in their pure form,…
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Why is Karat Used for Gold?
Have you ever had a post-workout protein bar that looked like it was covered in decadent chocolate, only to bite into it and it tasted like paper? That was probably carob on the outside, not chocolate. And although a healthier alternative, it is just not the same. Well, while carob may not be rich in…
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How is Gold Mined?
Mining for gold is a long and expensive process. The World Gold Council gives 5 stages in the life-cycle of a gold mine. The first two, exploration and development require up-front investment of time and money before any material is taken from the ground. Scientists spend many, many years piecing together geological studies and soil…
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Welcome to Casual Jeweler
Who should read this blog Casual Jeweler is the place for everyone to learn more about purchasing, caring for and enjoying their fine jewelry in a completely relaxed and “casual” way. There are many times we have questions or are curious about fine jewelry, but finding an environment to learn more can sometimes be intimidating.…