Yellow gold, a jewelers’ mystical treasure

Yellow gold has been humankind’s most prized metal. Its fantastic yellow color and brightness has attracted people since 6,000 years ago.

Gold is incredibly inert, it retains its color and shine without reacting or tarnishing. That’s why it has been used for jewelry since the start of history.

In its native state gold has its golden, yellow color but is extremely soft to wear.

Just like, silver, yellow gold has to be alloyed to increase its hardness.

Gold can be alloyed with different metals to increase not only its hardness but to give it different colors.

Gold’s long lasting luster has given it an ancient symbolic connection with the sun, a mystic significance among tribes and a symbolic association with the idea of immortality.

Since antiquity, gold has been found in alluvial deposits on the earth’s surface within easy access with little or no digging.

Metalsmiths have long used gold because of its great working characteristics. Because it’s a soft metal, you can alloy it to harden it but you can still shape it in any way possible.

Its ductility and tensile strength make it suitable to draw it, making wire of very thin gauges and long continuous lengths.

Its heavy weight is due to its relatively high density (specific gravity).

For example, a piece of jewelry made in yellow gold will weigh twice as much as the same piece made in silver.

Watch this great video about mining, refining and producing gold (it’s a bit old but very informative!).

Market prices for gold

Gold prices have gone up steadily since 2007.

Since the beginning of this year prices have increased by about 20%.

BBC.co.uk analysts say that gold prices will stay high as long as dollar and growth fears remain.

Gold prices tend to go up because of many reasons: expectations of further cuts of US interest rates, house prices falling at speed, high oil prices, inflation and speculative trading.

With a recession scenario gold prices tend to be extremely volatile.

Keep up-to-date with gold prices with your live Kitco price chart shown above, updated daily.

Furthermore, gold since antiquity has had a role as a safe-heaven asset for people.

You see people everywhere rushing around selling old necklaces, earrings and rings to guard themselves against possible economic hardship. Learn how to alloy gold and achieve different colors of gold here.

For info about how to hallmark your gold jewelry read this article.

References used: Bonewitz, Ronald Louis; (2005); McCreight, Tim; (2004); Untracht, Oppi; (1985)

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