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A Guide to Gold

No other precious metal has been treasured as highly as gold throughout human history. Gold has a rich and fascinating history, from its cultural importance to its function as a money and a conductor of electricity—and it remains valued to this day. 

 

In this tutorial, we'll look at the nature of gold, provide an overview of its history and legend, and discuss what to consider while purchasing and keeping gold jewellery.

What is Gold?
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Gold is a golden metallic chemical element. It is usual in nature to find it in its pure form, as grains or nuggets. It is, nevertheless, a rare valuable metal. It is resistant to most acids that dissolve silver and base metals. 

 

It will never corrode, rust, or discolour. It is also quite malleable and may be alloyed with other metals. Along with its inherent lustre and visually beautiful colour, gold is one of the most popular and sought-after naturally occurring metals on the planet.

Types of Gold

Gold is distinguished by its naturally intense golden lustre. Color changes occur as a result of gold being alloyed to varying degrees with various metals.

1. Yellow Gold
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  1. A mixture of pure gold, silver, copper, and zinc

  2. Most hypo-allergenic kind of gold and needs the least maintenance

2. White Gold
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  1. Pure gold alloyed with silver and either platinum or palladium

  2. Nickel can also be used for a harder piece of jewellery, but it can be an allergen

  3. Platinum or palladium-alloyed white gold, rhodium plating makes it more durable and scratch-resistant

3. Rose Gold
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  1. Greater presence of copper in the alloy

  2. More affordable because copper is a common metal

  3. More durable than other gold types

The History and Significance of Gold

Gold was used to make decorations in the Middle East and the Balkans as early as the fourth millennium B.C. In 3100 B.C., Menes, the father of Egypt's Pharaonic dynasty, assigned the first documented value to gold. In his code, he made one part gold equivalent to two and a half parts silver.

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The ancient Greeks used it as money, with the earliest recorded use going as far back as 700 B.C. by Lydian merchants.

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Gold was plentiful among the indigenous peoples of Central and South America. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Europe's looting of Mesoamerican civilisations helped pave the deadly route for European economic triumph. 

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The discovery of gold in Russia, Australia, and California in the United States fueled gold rushes throughout the nineteenth century. Around this period, gold became the norm for paper currency in industrialised nations, and remained so until the 1970s. 

 

The discovery of the Witwatersrand, a plateau along what is now known as Johannesburg, in 1886 sparked South Africa's reputation as a gold-mining region. 

 

Gold is now mined mostly in South Africa, Russia, the United States, and Australia. They account for more than two-thirds of all gold produced worldwide each year, with China being the largest producer in modern times, having extracted 440 tonnes of gold in 2017.

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Maintaining Gold Jewellery

Retaining your gold jewellery requires just a bit of care and attention:

  • Remove it before bathing, swimming, and cleaning to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals

  • Wear high-carat gold jewellery only for special occasions to avoid damage

  • Store pieces separately; cover them in cloth if you don’t have dedicated jewellery cases

  • Keep gold chains untangled when storing them

  • Buff gold jewellery occasionally with a thin piece of soft cloth to prevent build-up of oil, dust, and grime

Once every three months, deep clean gold jewellery by soaking it in Gold-cleaning solution. Ensure the cleaning solution is safe for whatever precious stones there may be on your piece. Then, use a cotton bud or a soft brush when dealing with intricate patterns. Lastly, rinse with warm water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.

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