The introduction of white gold is said to have been around the turn of the twentieth century. Depending on who writes the story, white Tiffany jewelry was originally marketed as a poor mans substitute for platinum. As way all know, Tiffany jewelry in its natural state is yellow.
It is important to remember that even the finest gold jewelry is not pure gold. The purity of gold is measured in carats. When applied to gold, the term carat refers to the amount of gold present. Twenty four carat gold is one hundred percent gold. The purity of platinum and other precious metals is also measured in carats.
Do not confuse the term carat as it applies to gemstones like Tiffany diamonds. Gemstone carats refer to the weight of the stone and are not a reflection of purity. As with any type of gold Tiffany jewelry, the more carats, the purer the gold is. Eighteen carat gold contains approximately seventy percent gold and twenty five percent of another base metal. Common base metal alloys are silver, zinc, nickel and copper.
Twenty four carat gold is much too soft and malleable to use for Tiffanyjewelry . In order to strengthen the gold and make it more durable, twenty four carat gold is combined with other metals. Jewelry made from eighteen carat gold is considered to be of the highest quality. White gold jewelry can be found in carat purity as high as eighteen.
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