Gold is Amazing, Here's Why
Gold. It’s the quintessential jewelry material, its popularity owed to the warmth and shine of this classic metal. Current jewelry trends lean toward the minimal, and, when fashioned in this bright tone it has just the right amount of luster and interest.
However, gold jewelry has been around for far longer than modern necklaces, rings, and bracelets. We are committed to our craft, and the history behind our materials is just as important to us as what we can create with them. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down the backstory of our favorite materials, how they are formed, how they have been used in the past, and how we’re using them now. Today, we’ll start with gold.
G O L D Facts,
Gold is the only metal that is yellow or "golden." Other metals may develop a yellowish color, but only after they have oxidized or reacted with other chemicals.
Nearly all the gold on Earth came from meteorites that bombarded the planet over 200 million years after it formed.
The element symbol for gold—Au—comes from the old Latin name for gold, aurum, which means "shining dawn" or "glow of sunrise." The word gold comes from the Germanic languages, originating from the Proto-Germanic gulþ and Proto-Indo-European ghel, meaning "yellow/green." The pure element has been known since ancient times. (Facts via ThoughtCo)
A (brief) history of gold
Though we often think of metals as being formed through a technical process, gold is actually found in its natural state. Through natural events involving magma, tectonic plates, and even erosion caused by rivers, molten gold is pushed into the cracks of metamorphic rocks or formed into deposits. This beautiful metal can then be mined and used in the jewelry making process.
One of the oldest uses of gold in jewelry comes from the ancient Egyptians, who used it in elaborate headpieces, neck plates, and talismans. Gold was associated with the sun in Egyptian culture, and was often used for crowns for pharaohs. When King Tut’s tomb was uncovered, the treasure was transported to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where it is now the largest collection of gold and jewels in the world.
The Greeks and the Romans were also fond of using gold, with the Greeks creating a technique for gold beads called “granulation” and the Romans popularizing jewelry made from gold coins. Interestingly, that trend has come back around today!
M O R E Facts,
Gold is extremely ductile. A single ounce of gold (about 28 grams) can be stretched into a gold thread 5 miles (8 kilometers) long. Gold threads can even be used in embroidery.
Malleability is a measure of how easily a material can be hammered into thin sheets. Gold is the most malleable element. A single ounce of gold can be beaten into a 300-square-foot sheet. A sheet of gold can be made thin enough to be transparent. Very thin sheets of gold may appear greenish blue because gold strongly reflects red and yellow.
Throughout history, gold continued to be a primary material for jewelers for royalty and nobility. Today, that same reputation holds true, and we view gold jewelry as something special, luxurious, and as an investment.
M O R E facts,
Although gold is a heavy, dense metal, it is generally considered nontoxic. Gold metal flakes may be eaten in foods or drinks, although it is a common allergen for some.1
Pure elemental gold is 24 karats, while 18-karat gold is 75 percent pure gold, 14-karat gold is 58.5 percent pure gold, and 10-karat gold is 41.7 percent pure gold. The remaining portion of the metal usually used in gold jewelry and other items is silver, but items can also consist of other metals or a combination of metals, such as platinum, copper, palladium, zinc, nickel, iron, and cadmium.
Gold is a noble metal. It is relatively unreactive and resists degradation by air, moisture, or acidic conditions. While acids dissolve most metals, a special mixture of acids called aqua regia is used to dissolve gold.
Gold has many uses aside from its monetary and symbolic value. Among other applications, it is used in electronics, electrical wiring, dentistry, medicine, radiation shielding, and in coloring glass. (facts via ThoughtCo)
At Cire’ Alexandria, we treat gold with the same care that ancient jewelers did. Our pieces are gold filled, not gold plated, in order to maintain a level of quality and style without breaking your budget. We use gold in many of our creations, from necklaces and rings to bracelets and earrings. We’re partial to this material as it seems to work with just about any style, whether you’re looking to keep it simple or make a major statement. It’s no wonder that gold has remained popular throughout history.
The next time that you consider a piece of gold jewelry, we hope that you’ll be reminded of the key historical origins that we’ve laid out here. When we’re creating, we’re inspired by the notion that so many jewelry creators have come before us, that the Earth has the capacity to form such a stunning material through natural processes, and that we’re lucky enough to be here, today, using it as a vehicle for our inspiration. For making the world even more beautiful.