Metal Education

Understanding The Metals of Jewelry

Metal is crucial in jewelry making, serving as the foundation for durable and beautiful pieces. Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are popular choices due to their desirable characteristics. Gold exudes timeless elegance, silver offers affordability and versatility, while platinum and palladium add a luxurious touch. Different metals have unique properties that affect the design and longevity of jewelry, enhancing gemstones and providing structural integrity.

Van Cott Jewelers Metal Education guide will help you understand each metal type's characteristic and empowers buyers to make informed decisions based on purity, durability, hypoallergenic properties, and personal style preferences. Metals play a paramount role in jewelry, contributing to its aesthetics, durability, and value. Exploring the world of metals allows individuals to appreciate the craftsmanship behind each exquisite piece and make educated choices when acquiring their cherished jewelry from Van Cott Jewelers.

Platinum
Gold
Alternative Metals
Sterling Silver

Platinum metal commands attention with its captivating allure and extraordinary properties, making it a coveted choice when shopping fine jewelry at Van Cott Jewelers. Known for its remarkable durability and strength, platinum ensures that your jewelry pieces stand the test of time and retain their pristine beauty for years to come. Its robust nature allows jewelry artisans to create intricate designs and details that showcase exceptional craftsmanship.

In addition to its strength, platinum's striking white color adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any jewelry creation. As a naturally lustrous metal, platinum provides a radiant backdrop that magnifies the brilliance of diamonds and gemstones, elevating their sparkle to dazzling heights. Furthermore, platinum's hypoallergenic qualities make it a comfortable and safe option for even the most sensitive skin, ensuring a worry-free and enjoyable wearing experience.

Platinum Quality Mark

The platinum quality mark serves to identify the purity and composition of platinum in jewelry. These markings provide valuable information to consumers, allowing them to assess the quality and value of platinum pieces. Here are the common platinum quality markings:

Platinum: PLAT, PT (indicating pure platinum)
950: PT950, 950PT (indicating 95% platinum composition)
900: PT900, 900PT (indicating 90% platinum composition)

The platinum quality mark signifies that the jewelry piece contains a high percentage of pure platinum, which is a rare and precious metal known for its exceptional durability, luster, and resistance to tarnish. A platinum piece with a 950 marking contains 95% platinum, while a piece with a 900 marking contains 90% platinum, with the remainder typically being alloyed with other metals.

These quality markings help consumers differentiate platinum jewelry from other metals and alloys. They ensure transparency and provide assurance regarding the platinum content of the piece. Platinum's remarkable qualities, combined with the standardized quality markings, enable customers to make informed decisions and understand the value and purity of the platinum jewelry they are purchasing.

Embrace the allure of platinum metal and elevate your jewelry collection to new heights of luxury and refinement. With its enduring strength, gleaming white color, and hypoallergenic properties, platinum is the epitome of elegance and prestige in the world of fine jewelry. Experience the extraordinary beauty and craftsmanship that platinum brings to each meticulously crafted piece, and indulge in the timeless sophistication that only Van Cott Jewelers platinum can provide.

Gold is a highly prized and versatile metal used in the creation of exquisite jewelry. It is renowned for its radiant beauty, durability, and timeless appeal. At Van Cott Jewelers, we offer a wide range of gold jewelry crafted from different gold types, including various karats and colors, to cater to individual preferences and styles.

Gold Karat Options

Gold is measured in karats, indicating its purity. The most common karat options include:

24K Gold: Considered the purest form of gold, 24K gold boasts a purity of 99.9% and exhibits a rich, yellow color. People highly value it for its inherent beauty and rarity. While 24-karat gold exudes luxury, it is seldom used in jewelry making due to its excessive softness. Gold in its purest form, such as 24K gold lacks the necessary durability to withstand everyday wear and tear.
22K Gold: Due to its composition of 91.7% pure gold mixed with other metals, 22K gold is a preferred choice among jewelers for creating jewelry. This alloy provides a balance between durability and purity, making it suitable for various jewelry pieces. Its distinctive yellow hue adds a touch of elegance and charm. In Indian jewelry making, 22-karat gold holds a significant role due to its unique attributes and cultural importance. The high gold content makes it highly valuable, while the addition of other metals enhances its strength and resilience. This makes it ideal for crafting intricate designs and delicate patterns that are characteristic of Indian jewelry.

18K Gold: A popular choice for fine jewelry, 18K gold comprises 75% pure gold blended with other metals to enhance its strength. It strikes a desirable balance between purity and durability, providing a luxurious and enduring option. 18k is a popular choice for luxury brands and bridal jewelry as there are enough alloys to make it durable enough, yet very luxurious.
14K Gold: With a composition of 58.3% pure gold, 14K gold presents a durable and affordable choice for jewelry. It offers excellent strength and finds widespread use in various jewelry designs.
10K Gold: Recognized as the most durable and budget-friendly option, 10K gold contains 41.7% pure gold. It exhibits remarkable resistance to scratches and wear, making it an ideal choice for everyday jewelry.

Gold Color Options

Gold is available in different colors, achieved through the use of various alloys. The most popular gold colors include:

Yellow Gold: The classic and timeless choice, yellow gold showcases the natural beauty and warmth of gold. It exudes a traditional and elegant appeal that suits a wide range of styles.
White Gold: Created by alloying gold with white metals such as palladium or silver, white gold offers a contemporary and sophisticated look. It is often rhodium-plated to enhance its bright, white appearance.
Rose Gold: Achieved by mixing gold with copper alloys, rose gold captivates with its romantic and blush-toned hue. It adds a touch of modernity and elegance to any jewelry piece

Gold Quality Markings

Gold quality markings serve to indicate the purity and composition of gold in jewelry. These markings provide important information to consumers, helping them understand the value and quality of the gold used. Here are the common gold quality markings:

24 Karat: 24K, 24KT, 999 (indicating 99.9% pure gold)
22 Karat: 22K, 22KT, 916 or 917 (indicating 91.6% or 91.7% pure gold)
18 Karat: 18K, 18KT, 750 (indicating 75% pure gold)
14 Karat: 14K, 14KT, 583 or 585 (indicating 58.3% or 58.5% pure gold)
10 Karat: 10K, 10KT, 417 (indicating 41.7% pure gold)

These quality markings allow consumers to easily identify and compare the purity of gold in different jewelry pieces. The higher the karatage, the greater the proportion of pure gold. For example, 24K gold is the purest form, while 10K gold contains a smaller percentage of pure gold, with the remainder being alloyed with other metals.

Additional Information Regarding Gold Purity & Markings

Plumb:

Gold jewelry marked with KP (karat plumb) after the number indicates exact purity. For example, 18KP signifies precisely 75% gold content. The "plumb" marking assures that the gold content meets the stated karatage without deviation.

Gold Plated:

Gold Plated jewelry features a base metal or Sterling Silver with a gold plating. The thickness of the gold plating varies depending on the application method. Additional stampings found on Gold Plated jewelry may include:

GP: Gold Plate
RGP: Rolled Gold Plate
HGE: Heavy Gold Electroplate
HGP: Heavy Gold Plate
GEP: Gold Electroplated

Gold Filled:

Gold Filled jewelry consists of a gold outer shell with a base metal interior. The gold content in Gold Filled jewelry is higher compared to Gold Plated jewelry. These pieces are marked with GF and may include a fraction indicating the gold content. For example, a piece stamped 1/20 14K GF indicates that 5% of the weight of the piece is 14 karat gold.

By using standardized quality markings, jewelers ensure transparency and help customers make informed decisions based on their preferences and budget. These markings also protect consumers from deceptive practices, ensuring they receive the gold quality they expect. Overall, gold quality markings play a crucial role in providing clarity and authenticity in the gold jewelry market.

At Van Cott Jewelers, we understand the significance of gold in jewelry making. That's why we offer a diverse selection of gold jewelry crafted from different karats and colors, ensuring there's a perfect piece to suit every style and occasion. Discover the timeless beauty and allure of gold at Van Cott Jewelers and adorn yourself with jewelry that reflects your individuality and stands the test of time.

Van Cott Jewelers offers a range of alternative metals for those seeking unique and contemporary jewelry options. These alternative metals provide a fresh and stylish twist to traditional materials like gold and silver. Here are some of the alternative metals available at Van Cott Jewelers:

Steel: Offering a modern and industrial aesthetic, steel jewelry is renowned for its durability and strength, making it an ideal choice for everyday wear. These jewelry pieces often showcase sleek designs and are available in various finishes, such as polished or brushed.
Titanium: With its lightweight nature and hypoallergenic properties, titanium is a favored metal for individuals with sensitive skin. Its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, frequently utilized in high-performance industries, adds to its appeal. Titanium jewelry exhibits exceptional durability, corrosion resistance, and a modern, minimalist charm.
Palladium: Belonging to the platinum group, palladium is a rare and lustrous metal. Similar to platinum, it possesses a white color and hypoallergenic attributes. The exceptional durability and timeless elegance of palladium jewelry make it a popular choice, particularly for wedding bands and fine jewelry.
Palladium quality markings include PD500, PD950, and PD999, indicating the percentage of palladium content in the jewelry piece. This marking provides customers with peace of mind knowing that they’re receiving high quality materials.
Cobalt: This alternative metal in jewelry making, offers remarkable strength and scratch resistance. Its bright white color resembles platinum, while its affordability makes it an attractive choice. Cobalt jewelry requires minimal maintenance, retaining its shine over time. It is a durable and stylish option for those seeking contemporary designs.

Tungsten Carbide: Known as a popular material in jewelry making, tungsten carbide, combines the strength and hardness of tungsten with the durability of carbide. This unique combination results in a robust and long-lasting metal that is highly resistant to scratches, dents, and wear. Tungsten Carbide jewelry boasts a sleek, polished appearance that retains its shine for years without the need for frequent maintenance. Known for its substantial weight, tungsten carbide rings and accessories provide a luxurious feel. With its resistance to tarnishing and affordable pricing, tungsten carbide has become a favored choice for modern and stylish jewelry designs.
Ceramic: Despite not being a metal, ceramic is widely utilized for crafting watch cases, bands, and various jewelry pieces. Renowned for its exceptional strength, durability, and scratch resistance, ceramic offers a sleek and contemporary option for those seeking modern designs. Ceramic jewelry and watch components often showcase a smooth and polished surface, providing an elegant and refined aesthetic. Its versatility allows for a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures to be incorporated, allowing for endless design possibilities. Ceramic jewelry is also known for its hypoallergenic properties, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.

Whether you're looking for a unique wedding band, fashion jewelry, or a sophisticated watch, Van Cott Jewelers' alternative metals collection provides a range of options that combine durability, style, and affordability.

Sterling silver, a popular and versatile metal in jewelry making, is an alloy consisting of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, often copper. This combination actively enhances the metal's durability, making it suitable for everyday wear. Sterling silver jewelry showcases a beautiful silver hue and often features intricate designs and gemstones, adding to its appeal. Its elegance, affordability, and ability to complement various styles make it highly cherished.

The stamping on the inside of jewelry serves as an important hallmark, signifying the use of sterling silver. Jewelers typically include the quality mark "925" or "Sterling" in the stamp, indicating that the piece contains 92.5% pure silver. This stamp actively guarantees the quality and authenticity of the jewelry, providing assurance to customers that they are purchasing genuine sterling silver pieces.

At Van Cott Jewelers, we take great pride in showcasing our sterling silver jewelry collection. It features a diverse range of stunning designs, each meticulously crafted from this lustrous and durable material. Our goal is to offer our customers pieces that embody timeless beauty while remaining affordable, ensuring that they can enjoy the elegance of sterling silver without compromising on quality.

Platinum