Gold

The purity of gold used in jewelry and other items is measured in karats. Pure gold is also called 24 karat. 24 karat pure gold is always yellow in color. Pure gold is considered to be too soft for most jewelry so it is more commonly sold in lower measurements of 20 karat, 18 karat, 14 karat and 10 karat. These are all alloys of gold. These karat measures of gold can vary in color because different metals can be used to create the alloys. 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold mixed in with other metals. 14 karat gold is 58.3% pure gold mixed in with other metals. The lower the “k” number, the higher the amount of silver, copper or other metals that make up the alloy.

Silver

The purity of silver used in jewelry and other items isn’t 100% for the same reason that pure gold isn’t used in jewelry and other items. It’s too soft to be used because it will take wear and lose it’s shape. Instead, alloys of silver that are made with the addition of copper, germanium, zinc, platinum, boron, and silicon are most often used instead. True silver alloy items, those that aren’t merely plated usually fall into the category of sterling silver. Sterling silver items are 92.5% silver and most often marked Sterling, .925 or .9250. Coin silver items are marked as such and were made during American colonial times after the civil war from European coins. These coin silver items are over 90% pure silver.

The purity of silver used in jewelry and other items isn’t 100% for the same reason that pure gold isn’t used in jewelry and other items. It’s too soft to be used because it will take wear and lose it’s shape. Instead, alloys of silver that are made with the addition of copper, germanium, zinc, platinum, boron, and silicon are most often used instead. True silver alloy items, those that aren’t merely plated usually fall into the category of sterling silver. Sterling silver items are 92.5% silver and most often marked Sterling, .925 or .9250. Coin silver items are marked as such and were made during American colonial times after the civil war from European coins. These coin silver items are over 90% pure silver.

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Precious metals prices may and can change at any given time. Please note: these are not the prices that we pay, but the current market prices that we base our offer on when we buy your gold, silver and precious metal items.

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