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Jewelry Metals
Gold:
24K Gold is soft and rarely used for jewelry, so fine gold is alloyed with other metals to improve strength and durability. Most Gold jewelry pieces are created from 10K , 14K, and 18K Gold. The "K" indicates the karat, which is a measure of the gold's purity. A lower karat of Gold means that more alloys have been added, and therefore the metal is stronger. “Pure gold” is represented as 24 karats, 10 karat gold consists of 41.6% fine gold, 14 karat gold consists of 58.3% fine gold, and 18 karat gold consists of 75% fine gold. All Solid Gold pieces sold on CarterTradingCo.com are stamped with the hallmark stamp declaring the gold's purity.
Silver:
.925 Sterling Silver is the most common silver alloy in the world for jewelry. Pure Silver is referred to as .999 Silver, and like pure Gold, it is soft and easily damaged, and is therefore not often used for jewelry. .925 Sterling Silver is an alloy consisting of 92.5% fine Silver and 7.5% copper and other metals, and is therefore stronger and more durable than pure Silver. The .925 Sterling Silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. All Silver items on CarterTradingCo.com are 925 Sterling Silver and include the .925 hallmark stamp.
Oxidized Sterling Silver:
Oxidation occurs when Sterling Silver has a chemical reaction with Sulfur in the air. This tarnishes the silver, making it darker, with less luster. These qualities add depth and interest to jewelry pieces, and are part of a growing trend - Bali Jewelry. At CarterTradingCo.com we carry a wide variety of Hand-Crafted Bali Jewelry, most of which are oxidized to give them a unique look, and also lower the cost of the piece. All of our Oxidized Sterling Silver jewelry, whether they are hand-crafted Bali designs or not, are stamped with the hallmark 925 stamp signifying that they meet the Silver Standard and contain 92.5% fine Silver..
Caring for Sterling Silver Items:
Sterling silver is susceptible to tarnish – this is a natural reaction the metal has with chemicals in the air. Thankfully, preventative maintenance can help keep your sterling silver jewelry looking great for years to come. Frequent light polishing with a polishing cloth designed for sterling silver will help minimize tarnish, as will storing it in tarnish -proof cloth. Occasionally, you can wash your Silver jewelry with mild dish soap and warm water, however do not expose silver jewelry to chlorinated water or bleach, and be sure to rinse well and dry completely before putting your jewelry away. Store your Sterling Silver jewelry in a cool and dry place, as this will help prevent oxidation. Oxidation is when Silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the air. This causes Silver to acquire a dull build-up and loose some of it's luster. The tarnish must be removed regularly to keep the silver items bright and sparkling. Tarnish can be easily removed when first noticed. However, if left untreated, the color of the tarnish will darken and will become more difficult to remove, requiring professional cleaning. It is also important to avoid exposing sterling silver jewelry to harsh chemicals like chlorine, cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume, and to avoid extended exposure to direct sunlight.
Plated & Finished Sterling Silver:
Unlike Gold, Silver begins to tarnish as it ages. In order to improve tarnish resistance and help maintain color and luster, many Sterling Silver jewelry pieces are plated. For some items, the .925 sterling silver design is plated with a thin layer of .999 fine silver. This process is known as flashing, and it gives the item a shiny finish. Rhodium or platinum are also common finishes for Sterling Silver, which also result in a bright, shiny finish, and help delay tarnish. Other jewelry items may be gold plated or left unplated depending on the design. Flashing or plating silver jewelry also helps reduce irritation or discoloration for customers with sensitive skin.
Gold Vermeil:
Gold Vermeil is another form of Plated Sterling Silver. A typical example is 14K Gold covered Sterling Silver, often denoted as 14K/925. The Code of Federal Regulations 16, Part 23.5 defines Vermeil: "An industry product may be described or marked as 'vermeil' if it consists of a base of sterling silver coated or plated on all significant surfaces with gold or gold alloy of not less than 10 karat fineness, that is of substantial thickness and a minimum thickness throughout equivalent to two and one half (2 1/2) microns (or approximately 100/1000000ths of an inch) of fine gold."
14/20 Gold Filled:
Gold Filled jewelry is made up of gold tubing, which is then filled with brass. This gives the item the look and feel of gold jewelry, at a much more affordable price. Gold filled jewelry has about 100 times more gold than gold-plated jewelry, so the gold surface will never flake, peel, or wear off. At CarterTradingCo.com, our gold filled jewelry meets 14/20 gold fill standards. This means that the gold tubing consists of 14 karat gold, and that the tubing makes up 5 percent (1/20) of the total metal weight.
Plated Base Metal Fashion Jewelry:
Fashion and Costume Jewelry are items which are not made up entirely of Precious Metals, and are therefore less expensive. They are most often electroplated with a thin layer of Gold, Silver, or Platinum, and consist mostly of a base metal core. Although there are a variety of examples of base metals, all fashion jewelry items on CarterTradingCo.com consist of a Lead and Nickel Free base metal most often covered with Gold or Platinum, unless otherwise specified.
Tungsten Carbide:
Tungsten Carbide is an alloy of Tungsten and Carbon — when combined, the metal is extremely hard and durable. All of CarterTradingCo.com's tungsten jewelry is made up of Tungsten Carbide. Tungsten Carbide is ten times harder than 18 karat gold, five times harder than tool steel, and four times harder than Titanium. It is almost impossible to scratch and will keep its shine for a lifetime. Tungsten Carbide jewelry is known for its heavy weight and deep, modern color.Some tungsten jewelry on the market is manufactured with cobalt, which can cause adverse skin reactions. Tungsten jewelry containing cobalt can also develop oxidization spots that cannot be removed. CarterTradingCo.com only sells Tungsten Carbide items that are cobalt free.
Titanium:
Titanium is a fast-growing trend in the men’s jewelry sector and has many benefits. It is extremely resistant to corrosion and water and it is hypo-allergenic — people who have allergies to gold or silver can wear titanium without any problem. It is has a very high strength-to-weight ratio, resulting in lightweight, strong jewelry that is comfortable to wear. Because it is so strong and lightweight, titanium has been used for years in aerospace technology applications. And, titanium offers the stylish, rich color of platinum at a much more affordable price.
Titanium & Tungsten in Emergeny Situations:
In an emergency situation such as a hand or finger injury, it might be medically necessary to remove a ring. Although Tungsten Carbide and Titanium rings are harder than some other metals used for jewelry, rings made of these materials can be removed or cut off in an emergency.
Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel is an iron-based Steel alloy with a minimum of 11.5 wt% chromium. It's resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance, relatively low cost, and familiar luster make it an ideal metal for many applications, including jewelry. All Stainless Steel items on CarterTradingCo.com consist of 316L Stainless Steel. This is the most common type of Stainless Steel used for jewelry as it can be re-finished by any jeweller and will not oxidize or turn black. It is also fairly resistant to scratches.
Popular Finishes for Jewelry Metals
There are several metal finishes, most often used with Silver and Platinum Rings, which can affect the appearance and style of a jewelry piece.
The three most common are Polished, Matte, and Satin:
Polished - A high shine surface
Matte - A brushed finish that has a smooth but less shiny surface.
Satin - A brushed finish that is finer in texture than matte.
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