{"id":7265,"date":"2012-02-21T10:40:32","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T15:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=7265"},"modified":"2015-06-13T11:00:08","modified_gmt":"2015-06-13T15:00:08","slug":"what-makes-gold-wear-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/what-makes-gold-wear-down\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT MAKES GOLD WEAR DOWN?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Why<\/div>\n

Gold (10k, 14k, 18k<\/strong>) is the Most Popular Choice of Metal<\/strong> for all types of Jewelry: Rings, Bracelets, Chains, Earrings, Pendants…<\/p>\n

\nBut sadly…<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gold Wears Down!<\/h2>\n

\nThe thing that makes Gold so Awesome to work with is it’s Softness, or Malleability<\/strong>. Jewelers can create Wonderful Pieces of Jewelry Easily and Artistically.<\/p>\n

\nGold is so Malleable, it can be rolled into Very Thin Wires and Stretched for Miles<\/strong>. The Possibilities with Gold are Endless<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\nThe Fact that it is so Malleable, is also the Very Thing that makes Gold so Vulnerable!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nAny item that is more Durable (Stronger<\/strong>) than Gold, can Wear it Down, Scratch it, Dent it, Ding it, Bend it or Break it!<\/p>\n

\nThe reason for this is because Gold is only rated a 2.5-3 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Moh’s Scale<\/h2>\n

\nThe Moh’s Scale rates Minerals, Materials and Metals on a Scale of 1 – 10<\/strong>. 1 being the Softest, 10 being the Strongest. See the Moh’s Scale below…<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. TALC<\/li>\n
  2. GYPSUM<\/li>\n
  3. CALCITE<\/li>\n
  4. FLUORITE<\/li>\n
  5. APATITE<\/li>\n
  6. FELDSPAR<\/li>\n
  7. QUARTZ<\/li>\n
  8. TOPAZ<\/li>\n
  9. CORUNDUM<\/li>\n
  10. DIAMOND<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nThat is the Classic <\/strong>Top 10 Moh’s Scale. As you can see, Gold is NOT on the list<\/strong>. Nor is the other thousand items, Materials, Metals or Minerals. The real list is much, much larger.<\/p>\n

    \nSo let’s take a look at a more common list…<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Mohs Scale of Hardness<\/h2>\n

    \n\"Gold<\/p>\n

    \nSo on a Scale of 1 – 10, with Gold being only a 2.5-3, you can see why Gold is considered Soft<\/strong>. Platinum (4-4.5) is almost twice as Strong as Gold. And Titanium and Tungsten are much Stronger than that<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nAnything higher up the list of Gold, will wear Gold down<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nGranted, it may leave only Slight Scratches, Dings or Dents in the Metal, but it could also leave Huge Chunks of Gold Missing, or even Bend or Break your Ring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nOne thing you have to keep in mind is, when Gold warms up from being Worn on your hand, it Warms the Metal and makes it even more Malleable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nSo if you wear your ring to work and are constantly Banging it around (like going in and out of Filing Cabinets<\/strong>), chances are good you’ll be Bumping your Ring, Diamonds and Prongs and causing them to Wear down.<\/p>\n

    \nYou’ll know you’re doing this if your Gold is Scratched up, or if you’ve been having Problems with your Diamonds or Gemstones becoming Loose and Falling out.<\/p>\n

    The Truth is, we’re Pretty Rough on our Jewelry!<\/h2>\n

    \nJewelers know this about Gold, and that’s why Pure Gold (24k) is almost never, ever used in Jewelry<\/strong> today. Pure Gold (the 2.5-3 on the Moh’s Scale) is 24k Gold<\/strong>. The Jewelry most often found in stores is usually 14k, 10k and 18k Gold.<\/p>\n

    \nThat means that the Gold Metal is not Pure<\/strong>. Alloys and other Minerals and Metals have been added to the Gold to make it Stronger and more Durable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    14k Gold Content<\/h2>\n

    \n14k Gold (The Most Popular Choice<\/strong>), contains 58.5% Gold, 20% Copper, 14.5% Nickel, and 7.5% Zinc. Read more about Gold Content<\/a>!<\/p>\n

    \nSo in reality, Gold Jewelry isn’t really just 2.5-3 in Hardness. With the added Mixture, it probably puts it more like 3-3.5 on the Moh’s Scale<\/strong>. It’s still Fairly Soft though, and items like: Iron, Palladium, Platinum<\/strong>, Moonstones, Knife Blades<\/strong>, Titanium, Glass, Quartz, Steel<\/strong>, Tungsten, Corundum<\/strong>, Topaz, and Diamond will all Scratch Gold<\/strong> if it comes in contact with it.<\/p>\n

    Helpful Tips on Saving your Gold<\/h2>\n

    \nSo here’s some Tips on keeping your Gold Jewelry looking Great:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n1) <\/strong>If your work is physical and demanding with lots of lifting, don’t wear your Diamond Rings (Engagement Rings<\/strong>) to work. Wear a Plain Gold Band instead, that can be Polished up and Buffed easily (Comfort Fit Bands are the Best<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    \n2)<\/strong> Have your Ring Cleaned and Inspected often. Take your rings into a local Jewelry Store at least 3-4 times a year<\/strong>. Have them check the Metals for Weakness, Breaks, Scratches or Dents that could make your Ring or Prongs Vulnerable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \n3)<\/strong> Keep your Gold away from Bleach!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nBleach will break down the Integrity of your Ring and Pit the Gold<\/strong>. Don’t do Laundry or Cleaning with your Rings on!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n4) <\/strong>If you work in an office and do a lot of Filing, consider wearing just your Wedding Band<\/strong>. Filing cabinets will Ding or Pull on your Prongs and Metal and could also Damage or Chip your Diamonds<\/strong> as well!<\/p>\n

    Gold Will Wear Down!<\/h2>\n

    \nYou can’t Stop Gold from Wearing Down. But you can Slow the Process of Decay. Be Careful with your Jewelry. When your Prongs Wear Down (the first things to go<\/strong>), or the Shank (Bottom Portion of the Ring) gets Thin, have a Jeweler Beef them up<\/strong>. Rebuild them and make them Durable again.<\/p>\n

    \nGold CAN last a lifetime<\/strong>, but only if you Maintain it.<\/p>\n

    \nThis is one of the reasons why I push purchasing an Extended Service Plan<\/strong> (ESP) on your Rings when you Buy them. You’re gonna need it!<\/strong> Repairs get Costly. Our Jewelry takes a Beating, Abuse and Damage!<\/p>\n

    Gold is the Ultimate Metal though. The Luster and Shine of Gold can’t be Beat<\/strong>. It’s been Valued and Prized for Centuries. King Tut was Buried with it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nThe Appeal of Gold is Universal and hard to pass up. <\/p>\n

    \nJust be a little bit more Careful and Protective of it, and your Gold will thank you! :)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Gold (10k, 14k, 18k) is the Most Popular Choice of Metal for all types of Jewelry: Rings, Bracelets, Chains, Earrings, Pendants… But sadly… Gold Wears Down! The thing that makes Gold so Awesome to work [Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7265"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}