Precious Metals
The best-known precious metals are gold, silver, and platinum. These are considered precious because it is a naturally occurring element, which makes them very rare and valuable. Metals play a critical role in the creation of contemporary jewelry by affecting appearance, durability and cost. This is why we at Allura Fine Jewelry promise our customers an unmatched expertise in fine jewelry when dealing with precious metals and gemstones.
Perhaps no other substance on earth has captured the hearts and minds of man more than gold. Popular for its rarity and luster, gold quickly became a method of payment and a key component used in the manufacture of jewelry. Below is a breakdown of the percentage of pure gold in each of the popular karat weights:
24 Karat: 99.9% Pure
22 Karat: 91.7% Pure
18 Karat: 75% Pure
14 Karat: 58.3% Pure
12 Karat: 50% Pure
10 Karat: 41.7% Pure
Silver has been used by man in jewelry nearly as long as gold. Like Gold, pure Silver is very soft and easily damaged, so it’s commonly mixed with other metals to improve durability for use in jewelry. Silver is normally mixed with Copper. You might see a common “.925” rating on any sterling silver jewelry you own.
Platinum is a silvery, white metal that’s extremely rare and considered more precious than gold. Priced significantly above Gold, Platinum is among the heavier metals used in jewelry. Platinum is also commonly mixed with other metals. However, for a piece of jewelry to be labeled as “platinum” it must have a minimum level of purity of at least 95% pure platinum. A purity level of less than 95% would require the metal be identified as a Platinum alloy. Normally, Platinum jewelry pieces can be identified by a stamp with “PLAT”.
