Gold, A Precious Metal
Gold is a rare metallic element with the chemical symbol, AU, for the Latin word "Aurum, meaning Glowing Dawn.
The properties of Gold are unique to all other metals.
- Pure gold does not tarnish, rust or corrode.
- Gold can be melted and shaped into many forms
- Pure gold has a natural warm yellow color, it is colored by other metals added to it. All other precious metals are silver or grey.
- Gold can be alloyed with several other metals to increase its strength.
- Gold allows for different type of finishes; including, highly polished, satin, matte, hammered, diamond-cut and filigree.
Gold is described in terms of karatage to indicate the pure gold content of a particular item. Karatage describes the parts of pure gold per thousand; for example, if an item is stamped (hallmarked)
- 750 is measure for 18k gold having 750 parts of gold per thousand, 75% pure gold and 25% alloy (another metal)
- 585 a measure for 14k gold, 58.5 % of pure gold
- 24k gold must contain a minimum of 99.0% gold
All jewelry should be hallmarked, or called 'fineness mark' with a stamp to indicate the value of the item and the percentage of the precious metal versus the alloy.
Gold items can be produced in a range of colors including, white, yellow, red, green, blue, black and purple. The variations are achieved by mixing pure gold with other metals.
- White gold is produced by alloying pure gold with white metals; nickel, silver, palladium and zinc. If white gold is alloyed with a high percentile of nickel it may cause allergies on skin.
- Rose gold is produced by alloying pure gold with raising the ratio of copper to silver.
- Green gold is made by adding a combination of silver, palladium and copper.
Variations in color also affect the properties of gold hardness and strength due to the different mix of alloy.
Jeff Deleuse
- B.A. Psychology
- Advanced French Language, University of Nice, France
- Stanford Continuing Studies
- Graduate Gemologist, Certified Appraiser
Janet Deleuse
- B.S. Molecular Biology
- Stanford Continuing Studies, Art History and Literature
- Saul Bell International Jewelry Award Judge, 2015
- Past Board Marin Advocates for Children, 2014
- Contributing Writer and Featured Designer in Jane Merrill's book"I Love Those Earrings" 2014
- Audio Contributor to “Cartier & America” Exhibit at the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, 2010-2011
- Janet Deleuse Couture Featured in Britex Newsletter, San Francisco, 2012
- "Fashion & Impressionism" research paper written in Spring 2011; for exhibit
- Cartier Achievement Award presented June 2009
- Women's Jewelry Association Award January 2009
- Contributing Writer for LUXX International Jewelry Magazine, 2009-2010
Affiliations:
- Graduate Gemologists
- Members of the American Gem Trade Association
- American Gem Society
- Jewelers Of America
- Women's Jewelry Association
- Contemporary Jewelers Design Group
