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EXACTLY what is 10K, 12K,
14K, 18K and 24K GOLD anyway?
Pure gold is called 24 KARAT GOLD.
Rings are commonly made of 14K, or 14 KARAT
GOLD. This means 14 K is actually an alloy of pure gold (24K) and other metals to make it
hardened enough to hold the shape of the ring. 14 parts gold, 10 parts of other metals.
Pure gold, 24K is a bright gold color but
it is very soft. A ring of 24K gold would bend out of shape very quickly.
A piece of jewelry made as 12K, means the
piece has 12 parts of gold to 12 parts of other metals.
So, the formula is easy to understand.
If you look on the inside of a ring, you
will typically see it stamped as a measurement in KARAT. Or, 10K - 12K - 14K and so on.
What this actually tells us is that a person stamped the piece a specific grade.
What is HGE. HGE stands for Heavy Gold
Electroplate. If you see affordably priced large gold colored rings, there is a potential
the ring has HGE stamped inside the ring, telling you is has HEAVY GOLD ELECTROPLATE on
it.
How can you tell the difference?
- HGE is typically a brighter gold color than
14K gold is.
- There are tests. These are not all that
uncommon to do for experienced appraisers of jewelry. However, it can slightly damage the
piece.
I say I trust the CROSS PEN Company. They
have produced GOLD PENS for years. You will need to get (or borrow) what is called a
jewelers loop. It is a small magnifying glass. At the top of the Cross Pen, you can find
they say "1/20th 14K Gold Filled." They also have several other grades.
If you are really interested, check out a
jewelry store in your area and ask them about it. They may be able to explain it to you
and show you examples.
As an allied AND VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
- The Gold Plating, as in HGE and other Gold
Plating on Jewelry, and 14 K Jewelry, is designed to be worn by PEOPLE in reasonably calm
environmental conditions.
- The 24 Karat SOFT Gold Plating done on
automotive scripts and emblems is worn by vehicles that regularly and frequently drive at
speeds above 55 miles per hour which is a HARSH ENVIRONMENT.
When you deposit and bond 24 karat gold
onto a script and emblem, it is important to protect it. We suggest, at a minimum, a soft
wax, such as soft Turtle Wax to put a protective coating on the gold. Turtle Wax claims it
will last a year. We accept that and suggest you use the soft Turtle Wax every 6 months.
As an alternative, we offer a product
called "GOLD ARMOR" which puts a protective coating on the gold. We include a
ONE OUNCE SAMPLE of "GOLD ARMOR" with your first order - try it - other have and
see excellent results.
To go back to the top of the frequently
asked questions page, CLICK HERE.
To go to our GOLD PLATING INFORMATION PAGE,
CLICK HERE.
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