Trusted wedding jewellery suppliers carry gold that comes from various places. People mostly hear about Chinese gold or Italian gold but what is most important to remember is that gold has the same physical properties wherever in the world it was mined. The names are only meant to identify where the gold ores came from.

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There are varied methods to process gold and turn it into jewellery. The main difference in value depends on the level of alloy mixed with it.

Here are some of the different Gold Karat Values that you’ll want to check:

24 karats (Pure Gold)

24 karat gold is also called pure gold or 100 percent gold. This means that all 24 parts in the gold are all pure gold without traces of any other metals. It takes on a distinct bright yellow color .

There is no higher karatage of gold than 24K. Since this is the purest form of gold, it is naturally more expensive than 22K or 18K gold.  This type of gold, however, is lesser in density as compared to gold of a lower karatage which makes it soft and pliable.

22 karats (Chinese Gold)

Among the classification of gold, Chinese gold has the highest karat value at 22 karats. This means it has 22 parts metal alloy containing zinc. An alloy is a mixture of metals and elements. Zinc gives gold a richer tone.

14 karats (Italian Gold)

What people refer to as Italian gold is 14 karats, which means it is 14 parts gold and 10 parts metal alloy. Italian gold contains more copper that makes it appear reddish.

A piece of jewellery is more expensive when it has a higher gold content. But just because it’s more expensive does not necessarily mean it has better quality. Gold jewellery reacts with the user’s acidity and thus a 14 karat or an 18 karat gold jewellery is more advisable for wearers. The value of workmanship is also added since 14 karat or 18 karat gold is easily fashioned into jewellery .

Keeping gold in its yellowish form means there is little need to mix it with an alloy to add color. In making wedding bands, jewellers use fifty eight percent gold as its basis. The 42 percent is made of alloys. Adding rhodium makes it white gold and copper gives it a rose gold hue.

It’s important to note though that most clients prefer white gold out of aesthetics because it goes well with practically anything. It can also be both formal and casual so wearing white gold jewellery has a dual purpose.

So which gold karat value is best for you and why?

The post Gold Karat Rings: Which Karat is Best For You? appeared first on The Top Knotters.

Read down below what their advantages and disadvantages are:

Gold

If you want something that is resistant to tarnishing, then the best option for you is gold. It is also known as the traditional wedding ring. In its pure form, gold is too soft to be worn as jewellery. It would not withstand the everyday stresses that it is exposed to. That is why it is often mixed with other metals such as copper, zinc, silver or cobalt to make a stronger alloy. What’s good about alloying gold with other metals is that the end result is often a different colour (ex. white and rose gold).

Platinum

Nowadays, in bridal fairs, a good number of couples inquire after platinum as the base of their wedding bands. It’s a strong metal used for military weaponry so you can guess how tough it must be. Jewelrywise.com says platinum is ‘30 times more rare than gold (which means it’s more expensive) and 40% heavier than 14K gold — and it doesn’t tarnish or oxidize.’ Because platinum is rare, resizing and repairs have to be done by the platinum source, which means there will be added export cost and a longer time allotment for after-sales services.

And then there’s

Silver

While it is also a precious metal, It is also more affordable than gold or platinum. It tarnishes over time so a wedding band made of silver has to be retouched over and over again. And the surface scratches easily, which means one has to be extremely careful when handling their rings.

Tungsten

It is a strong metal and it’s downside is it is not easily adjustable. If you set tungsten at a particular ring size, more likely, that will be its size for the long haul. It is less valuable but is hypoallergenic.

Titanium

a lightweight metal more suitable for men who are not a fan of rings. It is hypoallergenic but like tungsten, cannot be resized.

For wedding bands, gold is still the top choice for its investment value and after-sales serviceability.

You may opt for yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold and they are most commonly available in 14k. (By Xaris Hope Tamayo)

The post How To Choose Your Wedding Ring Metal appeared first on The Top Knotters.

We hear about diamond’s shapes being round, emerald, princess or pear but its’ cut is a more important consideration because a cut determines how the diamond interacts with light. Their brilliance is dependent on how the rock is cut.

1) The Cut

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the premier group which classifies the value of a good diamond. According to its website, ‘a diamond’s cut is crucial to the stone’s final beauty and value. And of all the diamond 4Cs, it is the most complex and technically difficult to analyze.’

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An excellent cut has an even pattern of bright and dark areas, its symmetry is more precise and the brightness, fire (scattering of white light) and scintillation (sparkle) are evenly done. As these factors diminish, the scales also go from excellent to poor. ‘A well-cut diamond will direct more light through the crown.’

GIA’s diamond cut grade also takes into account the ‘design and craftsmanship of the diamond, including its weight relative to its diameter, its girdle thickness (which affects its durability), the symmetry of its facet arrangement, and the quality of polish on those facets.’

2) The Clarity

Another factor to look at is Clarity. There are two considerations to a diamond’s clarity. The internal characteristic is called an inclusion (intrinsic impurities in the atomic level) and its external characteristic is called blemishes (occurs when the diamond is cut and polished). No diamond is perfectly pure but the closest to purity one is, the more valuable it is.

GIA scales the clarity in six categories: flawless, internally flawless, very, very slightly included, very slightly included, slightly included, and included.

A ‘flawless’ diamond has no inclusions and no blemishes visible under magnification. An ‘internally flawless’ diamond has no inclusions visible under 10x magnification. ‘Very, very slightly included’ ones have inclusions that are so slight and difficult to see even by a skilled grader. ‘Very slightly included’ is more common in wedding and engagement rings. ‘Slightly included’ has inclusions that are noticeable and included has obvious inclusions, which may affect transparency and brilliance.

10x magnification is required to see any inclusion or blemish. Find a good jeweler who can provide you with tools to see where inclusions lie.

3) The Color

In terms of color, a diamond may be classified according to its lack of color. GIA says, ‘a chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water, and consequently, a higher value. GIA’s D-to-Z color-grading system measures the degree of colorlessness by comparing a stone under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions to master stones of established color value.’

This means that if your diamond has tints of color in it, the farther it is from the high color grade. They can go from colorless (D-F), to near colorless (G-J), to faint (K-M), to very light (N-R) and light (S-Z). Again, to the untrained eye, this color grade may look the same so you need to have a trusted jeweler who can issue you a diamond that is certified by the GIA.

What about colored stones? These are not included in the colorlessness scale and stones that have strong tints of brown or yellow are outside the scale. ‘Colored diamonds’ are often laboratory-produced. However, the infamous blue diamond gets its hue from the formation of the diamond absorbing yellow light thus reflecting a blue tint. It is rare and costs millions of dollars.

You will be able to find good diamonds when you look at the right places and more often than not, you will come across the right people who can give you value for your money’s worth.

The post How To Spot A Good Diamond For Your Bride? appeared first on The Top Knotters.