Gold, silver and platinum jewellery: for many people they're an investment. Before you buy here'swhat you must know about the precious metals used in jewellery.
Many metals are used to make the jewellerywe wear. While gold, silver and platinum may be the most familiar to you, do you know their qualities? Let's highlight what you must know about the precious metals used in jewellerybefore you buy.
Worth its weight
Luxurious, shiny gold: this type of precious metal forjewellery making is certainly the most well-known all around the world. It has enjoyed great nobility and notoriety throughout the ages and today it still stands for beauty and wealth. Very malleable, pure gold retains its integrity over the years; it maintains its brilliance and never tarnishes, making it one of the most esteemed precious metals. Here are some variations on pure gold:
- Yellow gold. Alloyed with silver and copper, yellow gold is the most widespread. It is always stylish and remains a winning choice.
- Pink gold. Made from an alloy with copper, this shade is gaining in popularity in jewellerystores; it can be seen on the wrists of men and women alike.
- White gold. This is yellow gold that is whitened through an alloy with one other kind of white metal. It is very modern, strong and especially shiny, but may be mistaken for silver due to its color.
Pure gold is a sure investment. It is also called 24-karat gold because one karat represents 1/24 pure gold. However, it's too soft for making jewelleryon it's own and would easily deform or wear down if you tried.
Money can’t buy happiness, but…
Silver is another of the elegant types of precious metals for jewellery. Because it is also too soft to be used on its own, it must be mixed with other metals such as copper. Sterling silver, indicated on jewellerywith the number 925, contains 92.5per cent pure silver and the balance in alloy. This combination makes it harder and more solid. More expensive, too, than plated silver.
Silver is still much less expensive than gold, and remains a very popular choice for making jewellery. It is fine and malleable and remains a trusted choice for its lustre and clarity. In contrast to gold, silver may tarnish and periodically needs to be cleaned: poor-quality silver rings can leave a black ring on your finger.
The platinum award
Platinum is one of the very rare types of precious metals for jewellery; it is 60 times rarer than gold. As you might have guessed, that makes it one of the most expensive. In fact, this pale grey metal is used in the making of very high-end jewellery. Platinum is extremely dense and hard, in addition to being hypoallergenic. It isn’t surprising that the music industry awards platinum status to its best sellers; this precious metal is the ultimate symbol of wealth and success.
A good all-around investment
Whether you choose gold, silver or platinum, the one advantage is that precious metals always increase in value over time—even more so if they're part of a beautiful piece of jewellery. So if platinum jewelleryis within your reach, or silver is more to your tastes, one thing is for certain: precious metaljewellery is always a solid investment.
