What are some helpful things to know when shopping for wholesale gold jewelry?
First of all, make sure you know the basics regarding common terminology for gold jewelry. You might have heard some famous actress referring to 24 Karat White Gold Jewelry. But are you really sure what that means?
A “Gold Karat” measures how pure the gold is in a piece of jewelry. Ancient traders used “grains” to measure very fine weights. The concept of 24 karats or grains in a piece of gold jewelry relates to mixtures of gold with other metals. There are 24 “parts” of the gold mixture.
Because gold is a soft metal, it is usually mixed with other metals to create gold alloys with more desirable features – durability, strength and color. “24 karat gold” is “pure gold” – 24 parts gold and 0 parts other metals. A wholesale gold plated jewelry piece that is 18 karats would be 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals.
American, European and Other Country Standards
Both the United States and Canada use the karat spelling. Karat (carat) can be abbreviated as “kt” or “ct”.
The following chart gives the most common karats in gold jewelry:
+ 14 karats equals 58.333% gold (American) or 585 fine (European)
+ 18 karats equals 75% gold (American) or 750 fine (European)
+ 24 karats equals 100% gold (American) or 1000 fine (European).
What marks will I see on wholesale gold jewelry?
In the United States, a “karat mark” of “24K” designates that the piece is 100% pure gold. If the gold jewelry is from Europe, it might have a number like “750″ on it, designating that the piece is 75% gold. There should also be a manufacturer’s trademark (hallmark) on the discount gold jewelry. Sometimes, a country of origin symbol will be included too.
United States law demands that anything sold as gold jewelry have at least 10 karats of gold to be classified as such.
Gold jewelry might also originate in any number of other countries with their own standards – Arab countries, China or India, to name a few.
Other Gold terms:
+ “Gold-filled” or “gold overlay” means that a gold section has been bonded, using heat, to the jewelry surface.
+ “Gold-plated” refers to a gold plate being bonded onto the jewelry piece.
+ “Gold leaf” is gold plating applied by hand.
+ Yellow gold,” “white gold” (Electrum) and “rose gold” get their color due to an alloy combination of silver, copper and gold. More silver leads to a “whiter” gold, while more copper leads to a more “rosy” gold.
What is the best Karat for gold jewelry?
This is a subjective question based on personal preferences. Since gold is softer and more expensive than other metals it is mixed with, a higher karat gold piece will have more value, but not be as durable. Thus, even though a 14 karat piece of jewelry has less gold, it might be more vaulable in the long run because it is more resistant to wear-and-tear.
What should I look for when buying wholesale white gold jewelry?
Wholesale gold body jewelry pricing is based on karatage, gram weight and design.
Gold jewelry is a treasure. Many pieces are passed down to younger generations as heirlooms. Thus, it is wise to be very careful while searching for wholesale gold jewelry.
Do your research. Look at other pieces made by the same designer. What is the history of a particular jewelry look? Verify the authenticity of the gold.
There are many different wholesale jewelry selections to choose from – rings, chains, pendants, earrings, bracelets and necklaces – carefully consider when you want to wear the gold jewelry.
Many good deals can be found on cheap wholesale gold jewelry. While Internet searches provide a larger assortment of pieces, you will still need to view the jewelry in person to determine if it is want you want. Avoid scams and traps by making sure that the wholesaler is credible. Gold jewelry is a great investment and treasure to own.
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