Buying Quality Gold, Platinum, and Titanium Jewellery Online

By Antigone Arthur

Everything You Need to Know About Buying Quality Jewellery Online

Gold, platinum and titanium are among the most coveted precious metals in the world. Jewellery crafted out of these pure substances is often highly valued and sought out by savvy consumers the world over. Learn everything you need to know about selecting quality pieces right here!

Gold Jewellery

Gold jewellery is perhaps the most traditional form of quality jewellery worn by men and women alike in every culture and society of the world. Gold has been used to fashion attractive pieces for centuries. Many historians believe that gold was used as far back as pre-historic times by man as a tool.

Later gold jewellery was first discovered dating to around 3000 BC. Gold first became widely used by the Egyptians, who combined gold with other precious metals to achieve varying looks, colours and durability.

So what do you need to know about buying gold? Let's start with the basics. Most gold is assessed via its weight or karats.

14k Gold - 14k gold jewellery is made up of 58.5% gold mixed with copper and nickel among other things. It is the most popular karat of gold purchased the world over, and is known for its affordability and durability.

18k Gold - 18k gold jewellery is popular particularly in Europe. Most 18k gold jewellery is made from 75% pure gold. Most premium jewellery is made with 18 k, which is only slightly more expensive than 14 k gold.

22-24k Gold - 22 and 24 karat gold jewellery is usually considered the most valuable, and is very popular among elite gold shoppers. This form of gold is the most pure, consisting of almost 199% gold. Generally 22 and 24 karat gold products have a richer colour than other gold jewellery

Is one better than the other? The more pure the gold, the softer the jewellery will be and the more likely to scratch. Fine scratches are easily minimized however with proper care and cleaning over time. Quality is more related to craftsmanship than the actual percentage of gold in a particular piece of jewellery When deciding on a piece that's right for you - you'll want to look for things like symmetry, overall appearance and finishing.

One of the best things about gold jewellery is it is available in both yellow and white. White gold is becoming increasingly popular though it is only available in 14 or 18 k styles. White gold jewellery is often plated with a platinum metal to help give its unique colour

Black Hills Gold

Black Hills gold is extremely popular among gold enthusiasts. Black Hills Gold is named not only after the style but also location the gold jewellery is fashioned in. Legend has it that a French goldsmith became lost during the gold rush of the mid 1870s in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

During a dream, he believed he had seen a mountain stream with grape vines; upon awakening, he walked over to find the very scene he dreamed about, and in gratitude decided to devote his life to creating gold jewellery in the shape of grape leaves and clusters fashioned out of gold.

Black Hills Gold jewellery is a particular style of jewellery that must be manufactured in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This gold jewellery is often combined with silver and copper to create green and rose leaved colour combinations. Most Black Hills Gold is available in 10, 12 and 14k versions.

This makes Black Hills gold extremely popular among jewellery fans looking for attractive yet very affordable gold jewellery

Platinum & Titanium Jewellery

Platinum and titanium jewellery are among the most expensive jewellery items, in part because they are crafted of white metals. Platinum jewellery is often very heavy and dense as is most titanium jewellery Platinum jewellery is much heavier than gold jewellery because of the density of the metal used to craft it.

Titanium is actually really light. It's only 60% heavier than aluminium and 45% lighter than steel! Platinum jewellery and titanium jewellery are also naturally white or silver, thus do not have to be combined with other metals to achieve a brilliant whitish sheen.

Most platinum jewellery is 90% pure or more, thus platinum jewellery is an exceptional selection for consumers who are allergic or who have sensitive skin. Gold jewellery might cause allergic reactions in people in part because it is mixed with other substances such as nickel, which can be irritating for some people.

Platinum and Titanium are very durable metals

Platinum and titanium jewellery usually will hold up well over time and require little maintenance, other than regular cleanings using a mild soap or cleaning agent. Titanium jewellery is in fact considered one of the most durable jewellery selections available, showing few if any signs of wear and tear over the years.

Both platinum and titanium jewellery can be fashioned with gold or silver inlays or adorned with stones. Platinum jewellery is often a popular choice for wedding and engagement bands. Titanium jewellery is slowly becoming more popular as its appeal and durability is more widely known. You can find platinum jewellery and titanium jewellery that is affordable.

Most unadorned bands generally can range anywhere from £30 on up. Remember that in general, intricate and ornate platinum or titanium pieces are more expensive than their gold counterparts, and it isn't uncommon to see pieces that cost up to several thousand dollars.

You can find virtually any type of jewellery in platinum and titanium that you can in gold. Most people select one or the other based on style or budgetary considerations. Gold can actually be combined with platinum or titanium to produce unique custom pieces.

The most popular platinum and titanium pieces remain rings for the most part; gold jewellery is still the reigning king and favourite it seems among jewellery wearers looking for a combination of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. That may change with time however, as more and more consumers realize the appeal and durability of other precious metals including platinum and titanium.