Gold Jewellery Origins
Gold was among the first metals to be mined because it commonly occurred in its native form; not combined with other elements, and because it was beautiful and imperishable, and because exquisite objects could be made from it. Artisans of ancient civilizations used gold lavishly in decorating tombs and temples, and gold objects made more than 5,000 years ago have been found in Egypt. Particularly noteworthy are the gold items discovered by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in 1922 in the tomb of Tutankhamun. This young pharaoh ruled Egypt in 14th century B.C., and an exhibit of some of these items, called "Treasures of Tutankhamun," attracted more than 6 million visitors in six cities during a tour of the United States from 1977-1979.
The graves of nobles at the ancient Citadel of Mycenae near Nauplion, Greece, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876, yielded a great variety of gold figurines, masks, cups, diadems, and Jewellery, plus hundreds of decorated beads and buttons. These elegant works of art were created by skilled craftsmen more than 3,500 years ago.
View our Gold Jewellery collection.
View our White Gold Jewellery collection.
Pure (100%) gold is too soft, and is usually mixed with other metal alloys (silver, copper, nickel and zinc) to make it stronger and more durable for Jewellery. The carat indicates the amount of pure gold in the metal. The higher the carat, the higher the percentage of pure gold in the metal. 18 carat gold is both heavier and more valuable than 9 carat Gold. 18 carat Gold contains a higher (75%) percentage of pure gold than 9 carat Gold (37.5%). 9 carat Gold is harder wearing than 18 carat but 18 carat has a richer colour and heavier weight.
The metal alloys that are mixed with pure gold for strength can also modify the resulting colour to produce different shades of yellow, white, and pink gold. White gold was originally developed to imitate platinum, and usually contains 25% nickel and zinc.
There are many factors that determine the value of a gold Jewellery piece: Weight - gold is sold by weight - grams(gr) or pennyweights(pwt), the heavier the piece, the higher the gold content, therefore it is more expensive. Design - designer Jewellery is more expensive, especially if it is a one of a kind piece. Finish - special finishes to the metal such as matte, or sand-blasted finish add to the cost of the gold Jewellery piece.
You can take good care of your Jewellery by following a few simple steps: Avoid contact with soap, perfume, cosmetics and hair spray. Take chains and bracelets off at night, and store them flat to prevent them from breaking. Use a gentle soft cloth to polish gold Jewellery after wearing.
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