Amidst the range of metals used for jewelry, gold is a popular choice. It is also the only one that carries a range of shades to choose from. However one may benefit from considering the following aspects before choosing gold.

Pros of gold

• Traditional choice for jewelry and enjoys high popularity anytime.
• Does not react with many of the chemicals and does not dissolve in nitric acid.
• Can be alloyed with different chemicals to create new colors and add strength.
• Does not rust, tarnish or corrode easily.

Cons of gold

• Pure gold is very malleable and too soft for usage in jewelry.
• Can be attacked by aqua regia, chlorine, cyanide and fluorine.
• Not as tough as metals like Platinum, which is considered ideal for diamond jewelry
• White gold prepared with nickel may cause allergic reactions or dermatitis.
• White gold with nickel is considered carcinogenic, while with Palladium is often expensive.

Questions before Choosing

Before you choose gold, ask yourself a few questions:

Would you use the ornament for daily wear?

 Daily wear ornaments need to be made of durable material as they are more susceptible to scratches, dust, grime and sweat. For example, when shopping for engagement rings, consider the fact that they are most susceptible to daily wear and tear and would need to be repolished regularly. You may thus need to opt for a ring that is strong and wont scratch easily like a ten to fourteen karat ring. Also consider that color altered rings when worn daily can change color over time. They would thus need to be replaced once in every year. However if you will use the piece of jewelry sparingly only at occasions, you can opt for higher karat gold.

What is the lifestyle of the user?

If the user has a sedentary lifestyle, like a lawyer, a doctor or a desk job, fine gold jewelry can be worn. However if the user has an active lifestyle and is highly involved in sports, swimming etc, hard knocks can damage the ring. Also exposure to water in the swimming pool can damage the ring.

What are the tastes of the user?

Take a peek into the user’s wardrobe especially before you are picking up gold as a gift. Check his or her tastes, whether they prefer traditional or contemporary metals and designs. You can pick up yellow gold  if the user has traditional tastes. However white gold or multi tone rings are a good option if the wearer has more contemporary tastes. Finally consider if the wearer is allergic to any metals present in the gold alloy.

What is the quality of gold?

Most gold has markings inside that indicate the purity of gold. For example, 12 karat gold means that the jewelry has 12 parts of gold mixed with 10 parts of base metal. Gold jewlrey may also be available as rolled gold plate, gold overlay or as gold filled. Such jewelry has a minimum of ten karat gold that is linked to the base metal. Ensure that you know the quality of gold you are paying for.

What other aspects should you consider?

While opting for a gold engagement ring, take the ring size carefully. if you are opting for a bracelet design or necklace instead, you will need to measure the wrist size or the proper necklace length as you would want in the final jewelry piece. Also read through the store’s warranties and policies so that you are well prepared if you need to exchange or trade up the jewelry piece. Finally you must ensure that the piece comes with proper certification regarding stone and metal.

Caring for gold

A few precautions and little care while using gold jewelry will help ensure that it lasts longer.

• Avoid exposure of gold to chlorine, which is often present in household detergents, the pool and hot water. Chlorine is known to react with gold at high temperature and can discolor jewelry.
• Avoid wearing gold jewelry while bathing or cleaning as soap may form a residue on jewelry making it appear less lustrous.
• A mild detergent and water solution can be used to clean gold ornaments. Ammonia can also be used for cleaning gold jewelry, but check with your gemologist if your ring has any precious stones in it that can get affected.
• Use a soft brush for removing accumulated dirt and a soft cloth can be used for cleaning. However for removing tarnishes or using chemicals to clean gold with gemstones, consult a jeweler first.
• Once a year get your gold jewelry checked by a professional jeweler who can tighten the mountings and clean the jewelry properly.
• Avoid sleeping in your gold ornaments every day as this can reduce the shine over time. This is especially true for high karat gold of 18 karat or more.
• Store your gold jewelry properly so that a jewelry piece does not come in contact with another and causes abrasion. A cloth lined jewelry case is best suited for the purpose  

Gold looks beautiful and lasts a lifetime. But to retain its brilliance you need to take special care for the metal. This will ensure that your gold ring looks as good as new, every time you wear it.