What makes Gold so special?
Gold can only be formed in the heart of a star and all the gold in the world arrived from space via meteorites and asteroids. Because of this gold is a rare item and holds high value, alongside this is the natural beauty of gold which makes it perfect for crafting jewellery and an excellent meaningful gift idea.
What Is Carat in Gold Jewellery?
Carat purity in gold jewellery is the amount of pure gold in a piece. Pure gold (24ct) is often too soft to be suitable for jewellery, so it is mixed with other metals such as silver, copper or zinc to form an alloy that enhances its durability and strength.
9ct vs 18ct vs 24ct Gold: What’s the difference?
The higher the carat (24ct gold), the higher the percentage of gold and the more valuable the item and richer the yellow colour of the metal. However, it is also softer and more prone to scratching and wear.
Lower carat gold, while containing less pure gold, has higher durability, making it more suitable for wear. In New Zealand, 9ct and 18ct gold is the most commonly used in jewellery, which offers a stunning look but with added durability.
As a general rule, the higher the carat, the deeper and warmer the gold tone appears. For example, 24ct gold has a naturally rich yellow colour, compared to 9ct gold jewellery items which will have a paler colour, as it contains less pure gold.
Choosing a Gold Colour That Suits You
When gold is mixed with additional copper, it creates rose gold which has a soft, warm, pinkish hue. The strength of the pink tone depends on the ratio of gold to copper. Rose gold has grown in popularity recently due to its romantic, timeless appeal.
White gold is an alloy made by combining yellow gold with other metals such as palladium and silver, plus a rhodium plating to enhance the colour. This produces a highly reflective white surface. White gold is also a popular choice for jewellery, including engagement rings and wedding bands due to its versatile and elegant look. White gold jewellery requires regular rhodium plating, to ensure the piece remains white and bright.
Choosing a Gold Colour That Suits You
When choosing which tone of gold jewellery is right for you, your skin undertones can play an important factor.
- Warm skin tones (golden/peachy undertone) look best with yellow or rose gold.
- For cool skin tones (a link/red/blue undertone), add a contrast and enhance your natural colouring with white gold jewellery.
- Neutral skin tones (a balance of warm and cool tones) will be enhanced by any tone of gold.
Your personal style also plays a role in choosing your metal.
- Prefer a classic or traditional style? Yellow gold is a timeless and elegant metal that never goes out of style.
- Favor a more modern and minimalist style? White gold adds a contemporary touch.
- Love a soft, romantic look? Try the warm pink hues of rose gold.
However, there are no rules when it comes to jewellery. Express yourself with whatever tone and style you like.
Choosing a Gold Colour That Suits You
When choosing which tone of gold jewellery is right for you, your skin undertones can play an important factor.
- Warm skin tones (golden/peachy undertone) look best with yellow or rose gold.
- For cool skin tones (a link/red/blue undertone), add a contrast and enhance your natural colouring with white gold jewellery.
- Neutral skin tones (a balance of warm and cool tones) will be enhanced by any tone of gold.
Your personal style also plays a role in choosing your metal.
- Prefer a classic or traditional style? Yellow gold is a timeless and elegant metal that never goes out of style.
- Favor a more modern and minimalist style? White gold adds a contemporary touch.
- Love a soft, romantic look? Try the warm pink hues of rose gold.
However, there are no rules when it comes to jewellery. Express yourself with whatever tone and style you like.
How to tell what carat your gold is.
Understanding Carat stamps like ‘375’ and ‘750’
Understanding carat stamps is the key to knowing how much pure gold is in any piece of jewellery. These small stamps are usually found in discreet areas, like the inside of a ring band or the back of a pendant bale.
Gold for Gifting: Special Pieces for Every Occasion
Birthdays
Popular gift ideas for birthdays:
Gold pendants with birthstones (each month has a corresponding gemstone – see our Birthstone Guide)
Initial pendants for a personal touch
Timeless gold earrings, studs, or hoops
Elegant bracelets or bangles.
Anniversaries
Anniversary Gift Ideas:
- Engraved gold rings, bangles, or bracelets.
- Matching necklaces or rings for couples.
Whether you’re looking for a gift to mark a birthday, milestone, anniversary, or a religious/cultural celebration, gold jewellery is a stunning and thoughtful gift for your loved ones.
Anniversaries
Anniversary Gift Ideas:
- Engraved gold rings, bangles, or bracelets.
- Matching necklaces or rings for couples.
Whether you’re looking for a gift to mark a birthday, milestone, anniversary, or a religious/cultural celebration, gold jewellery is a stunning and thoughtful gift for your loved ones.
Jewellery Care Tips to Make it Last
Wear advice for your Gold Jewellery
To keep your jewellery looking its best, here are a few helpful hints:
- Remove jewellery before sleeping to avoid unintentional damage.
- Items should be stored separately to prevent scratching.
- Nonflexible items are best kept flat when not being worn.
- Direct contact with perfumes and hairspray or other chemicals may cause jewellery to discolor or degrade.
- Remove jewellery when doing physical activities such as going to the gym, gardening, cooking or other heavy duty activities.
- Items are not recommended to be worn whilst swimming or showering.
- Special care is needed for hollow items as they may dent under impact or pressure.
- Gold rings and bracelets will encounter the most wear due to where they are worn, so these pieces will often require the most care.
Best Practices for Cleaning and Storage
Tips for cleaning your gold jewellery:
- Take care of your gold jewellery by cleaning your pieces with warm, mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
- It is recommended that you have your jewellery professionally cleaned every year. Gemstone settings should also be examined at this time to ensure any necessary work is done to prevent the loss of precious stones.
How to best store your gold jewellery:
- While Pascoes display boxes are ideal for presentation, they’re not intended for long-term storage.
- For best results, store items separately in soft pouches to prevent oxidisation, and prevent any scratches or tangling.
Browse our Extensive Gold Jewellery Selection
Whatever you’re shopping for – a meaningful gift for your loved one, a piece to celebrate a milestone like anniversary or graduation, or just to simply treat yourself, Pascoes The Jewellers has a stunning range of gold jewellery.
The importance of buying from a trusted jeweller
At Pascoes The Jewellers, we are committed to providing high quality gold jewellery to add to your collection. With over 115 years of experience, we are committed to providing quality jewellery and customer service to ensure you have a great shopping experience.
Our company has longstanding relationships with trusted manufactures and craftspeople all around the world and this allows us to source the widest range of gold jewellery in New Zealand.
Shop our wide range of gold jewellery in one of our 41 stores nationwide, or shop conveniently online from the comfort of your own home.