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PRECIOUS METAL EDUCATION

Precious metals are important to understand when shopping for and investing in fine jewelry, as it is widely recognized as the centerpiece of jewelry. Each metal offers unique advantages in terms of durability, color, maintenance, and value. Below is a brief overview of the most common precious metal options to help guide your decision.

At Colonial Jewelers, our expert team of sales associates are very knowledgeable on these topics and can answer any questions you may have. You can always give us a call, make an appointment or visit us in our Downtown Frederick showroom to discuss in more detail and see our selection of precious metal jewelry.

Platinum

Platinum is a dense, malleable and very durable metal. It’s strong.

Appearance wise, platinum wears to a natural patina; a warm grey tone, rather than the shiny bright tone of white gold. You can always have this polished if you desire.

Maintenance wise, there’s very little upkeep to it, unless you want to have it polished.

Fun fact: platinum is very rare - rarer than gold - and part of that is its multiple uses; it isn’t only used in the jewelry industry, it can also be found in a lot of technology and electronics.

Gold

Gold jewelry has always been very popular and high in demand.

Appearance wise, gold is gender neutral and comes in multiple color and finish options, the most common being yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. Each color comes with its own set of qualities and maintenance.

Maintenance wise, gold is resistant to tarnish and can be easily polished and maintained. Yellow gold, specifically, is softer than white gold or platinum and can show signs of wear more easily over time. White gold requires routine rhodium replating to keep its shine. Rose gold is strong and durable due to its copper content, and does not require plating and maintains its color over time.

Gold holds its value, but the cost fluctuates day to day.

What does “14 Karat” or “14k” mean in gold jewelry?

“14 Karat” or “14k” refers to the purity of gold in a piece of jewelry. Pure gold is 24 karats; it is 100% gold. 14 karat gold means the piece of jewelry is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other alloy metals (copper, silver, nickel or zinc).

The other metals are added for a number of reasons: strengthening the gold, as pure gold is very soft; adjusting the color, like adding copper is what gives rose gold the pink tone; improve durability for daily wear; and to make it more affordable by lowering the pure gold content.

14 karat gold is ideal for engagement rings, wedding bands and everyday jewelry for these reasons.

Still have questions? Visit us in-store, and our knowledgeable team will walk you through each metal option to help you find the perfect fit for your style, budget, and lifestyle.

Silver

Silver is one of the oldest and consistently used metals in jewelry. It offers a bright, cool-toned shine at a more affordable price point, making it a popular choice for everything from fashion pieces to meaningful gifts.

Appearance wise, silver has a brilliant white luster when polished. It does, however, tarnish over time and develop a darker or full finish, but that can be easily removed with cleaning or polishing.

Maintenance wise, silver requires a little more upkeep than gold or platinum to keep it looking its best. While regular wear actually helps prevent tarnish, occasional cleaning or polishing is still recommended, and especially for pieces stored away for long periods of time.

Most silver jewelry is made from sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver mixed with other metals to improve strength and durability.

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