Precious Metals

GOLD
Below you’ll find information about gold and how its value is determined. The gold information on this page also discusses the different gold grades and levels of gold quality.

*YELLOW GOLD 
Yellow gold is the most frequently used color of gold in the jewelry design. The gold quality of yellow gold is not deterred because it is alloyed with silver and copper.

*WHITE GOLD 
White gold is very popular on the fashion scene right now. Its alloy silver and other white metals sustain white gold quality. White Gold is usually preferred over silver, as it does not tarnish.

*ROSE GOLD 
Rose gold usuallyis usually alloyed with copper and sometimes silver.

GOLD PURITY

When buying gold jewelry, always look for the gold grade, also known as the karat mark. The gold quality of 24-karat is generally too soft for use in jewelry, so gold is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. The gold grade for 18-karat gold is 18/24ths, or three-quarters pure gold. Jewelry of this gold quality is marked 18k or 750, the European designation meaning 75% gold. In addition to the gold grades, every piece of gold jewelry should be stamped with a hallmark or trademark of its maker and sometimes its country of origin for gold quality verification purposes. These designations assure you that you are buying genuine gold jewelry. Below is information about the gold quality breakdown:

GRADES, QUALITY & PRICING

Gold pricing is based on a number of factors, including gold quality, gram weight, and gold grades, as well as design and craftsmanship. The gold quality and gram weight tell you how much gold is in a piece, but don't rely on this gold information alone to determine price.

STERLING SILVER

All of the silver jewelry at Elite Jewels is made of exquisite Sterling Silver for the highest silver grades. Our sterling silver guide will help you identify silver quality and craftsmanship.

Fine Silver (pure silver), is extremely soft and is commonly combined with other metals for durability. The most common alloy used to make fine silver quality is copper. Sterling Silver is 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% copper. The amount of copper used to create high silver grades has little or no effect on the value of the metal.

QUALITY STAMPING

Stamping ensures that you receive the highest silver quality in your sterling silver item. The most recognized silver quality stampings used to determine sterling silver grades include: .925, sterling silver, ster or sterling.

CARE & CLEANING

Silver utensils and jewelry with high silver quality do require more maintenance than gold or platinum, however. If silver grades are high, the piece requires more maintenance. While silver does not oxidize in pure air, all silver grades react with ozone and sulfides, such as hydrogen sulfide, found in the atmosphere around many industrial cities. This reaction forms a black film of silver sulfide with all silver grades—the "tarnish”—and may be aggravated by heat and moisture. Tarnish on any silver grades can be removed with tarnish-removing solutions, or "dips." While these chemicals will not disturb the silver quality, they can damage gemstones set in the silver, especially oil-treated gems like emeralds. Elite Jewels can supply you with a proper cleaning cloth for less than $10 to help you keep your precious silver’s quality.

FACTS AND INFORMATION

Silver quality can be seen visually by inspecting the silver’s finish. The finish, regardless of the silver grade, can be high polished, matte or brushed (rubbed with an abrasive), satin (a smoother matte), sandblasted (rough matte), oxidized (chemically blackened), or antiqued (chemically "aged"). Silver is often said to have a "patina," a worn-looking finish that is achieved through frequent use and handling, and which is particular to the wearer's skin chemistry.

PLATINUM

The appeal of platinum quality is its appearance; the white luster is unique. Platinum grades elude that it is also the strongest precious metal used in jewelry and is almost twice as heavy as 14k gold. This weight is one of platinum's strongest selling points, because it gives "heft" to fine jewelry, which people naturally equate with value.

CARE & MAINTAINANCE

Very little platinum education is needed to maintain your platinum jewelry. Soak your platinum in soap and water and gently scrub the metal with a soft brush. Your jewelry will have the same platinum quality with a brighter shine.

FACTS & INFORMATION

Platinum quality, like gold, has a long and distinguished history that began in ancient times and continues into its marked resurgent popularity today. Platinum grades were held in high esteem during early Egyptian times. Historians of platinum education learned that this precious metal was worked by native people in South and Central America as early as 100 B.C. Spanish conquistadors discovered platinum artifacts among the gold they were seeking and named the curious metal "platina," or "little silver." Not knowing the platinum quality, they considered all of the platinum grades worthless and discarded them. Information about platinum didn't reach Europe until the 18th century. Platinum grades and platinum quality were so high, Louis XVI eventually elevated platinum to be “the metal of kings.”

For centuries, the only large amounts of platinum were all found in Russian mines. Russia used platinum coins in the 19th century. In Spain, some gold coins were faked by gold-plating platinum coins. Currently, of course, platinum quality is much more valuable than gold, but early peoples didn’t have the same platinum information we have today. Platinum's initial uses were probably limited by its hardness and very high melting point.