Precious metal
For centuries gold has both inspired and fascinated, from the pharaohs of Egypt to the mysteries of the East.
For many years, people were convinced that gold originated from supernova explosions, that is, explosions from the sudden death of heavy and old stars in powerful explosions. But in 2013, U.S. scientists found that gold is formed in colossal amounts when two neutron stars collide and then explode in incomprehensibly violent energy discharges far out into space.
Gold, typically, is extracted from the ores of mines, with about half of all the worlds gold coming from South Africa. Other major gold producers include the United States, Australia, Russia and Peru.
Purity
When one works with gold, the starting point is always fine gold. It is 99.9% pure gold, which is then blended to become an alloy - an admixture, a metal combined with one or more elements - this, so as to achieve the different types and grades of gold.
Karat, when we talk about gold, is a term for the purity of gold. The higher the the level of purity, the greater the carats. In Denmark, we measure carats up to a level of 24. That is, 24 carats is pure gold and level of 1000 per thousand. There is a direct correlation between the purity of gold and its price. The value therefore increases along with the purity.
Gold jewellery is most often stamped with per mille, per thousand, and not with carat, to indicate purity. That is, gold of 24 carats will be stamped with 999, because it deviates a little from 1000 during its processing.
At 8 carats, the calculation to determine the correct stamp identifier will look like this: (8/24) x 1000 = 333, if you divide by 10, you can calculate that 33.3% of the content of the metal is fine gold.
The stamp of 14 carat gold is thus the same as 585 (33.3% gold), while 18 carat gold is 750 (75% gold), and 22 carat gold is 916 (91.6% gold). This applies to all varieties of gold, whether red gold, white gold or rose gold. Platinum is stamped with PT.
In Europe, we usually use gold of up to 18 carats - over 18 carats - and the gold becomes too soft and susceptible to scratches and wear, when the content of fine gold is too high. At Theodor CPH, we always craft with 14 and 18 carat gold and platinum.
In Denmark, requires by law, that jewellery in precious metal be stamped with a stamp of purity and must also contain the manufacturer's name or initials.
Metals
Yellow gold
Yellow gold is the most commonly widely used form of gold because it is the type of gold closest to fine gold. Yellow gold is the most classic form of gold used in all kinds types of jewelry, such as wedding rings.
White gold
White gold is a mixture (an alloy) of gold that contains an extra, a greater, quantity of white metal, usually silver or palladium. The mixture causes the gold to brighten and lose part of its warm glow.
White gold is used in the jewelry world primarily as an alternative to the extremely costly, precious metal, platinum. White gold, is more expensive, has a greater value, than traditional red gold because the alloy, which contains silver and palladium, is more expensive.
Rose gold
Rose gold is a mixture (an alloy) of gold that contains extra copper when compared to the traditional red gold. The copper gives the rose gold its characteristic pink color, by reducing the amount of silver downwards in relation to the amount of copper.
Rose gold or "pink gold", as it is also called, has become extremely popular in recent years, as it is often considered to have a more modern look.
Platinum
Platinum is one of the most valuable metal types there is. It, being approximately 30 times as rare as regular gold. Platinum is a pure and unmixed metal with natural grey-white colour tones. When platinum is to be crafted into jewelry, the alloy usually consists of 95% platinum and only 5% other metals in order to be able to process the metal in just the right way.
Platinum is a harder, more resilient metal, and much less susceptible to scratches and abrasion - every day wear and tear. Therefore, platinum jewellery will retain their glossy, beautiful appearance significantly longer than other jewelery metals.
Rhodium
Rhodium plating is a surface treatment, a coating process, where rhodium is used to give the metal a glossy white surface and make it more resistant. A rhodium plating will extend the new look of the jewellery, or it can refresh a piece of jewelry to make it look like new.