Gold Necklace Buying Guide

Buying gold necklace as the jewellery necklace of your choice has also some factors that need to be measured like those in diamond necklace buying guide. You may choose 14k gold necklace, 24k gold, or 18k gold necklace but it will always depend on your decision. Let's take a look at the factors in choosing a gold necklace.

Before I tell you how to choose a gold necklace, let me discuss something about gold. Ok, gold do not tarnish nor rust. This is what makes gold strong.

But do you know it is the softest of all metals? Yes, gold is a soft metal that's why a pure 24k gold is too soft for jewellery, while a 22k gold (consisting of 91.7% gold) is very, very soft and not recommended to be used for jewellery.

For gold to be recommended for jewellery and to withstand everyday use, it is mixed with other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to have a durable characteristic.

Anyway, it's time to choose your desired gold necklace. Here are the things you need to know:

Look for the Karat

After picking up the right design of gold necklace, the first important thing you need to look for in gold necklaces is the amount of karat a gold has. The karat mark will tell you the percentage of pure gold your gold necklace contains.

Gold, due to its nature as the softest metal, is mixed with other stronger metals to make it strong. Here are list of gold karats for clearer analysis:

24karat gold - This contains a 100% pure gold and has a very rich gold color, but very soft. Not recommended for use on gold necklaces or other jewelries.

14karat gold - Contains 58.3% gold, 41.7% other metals. Much stronger than 18k gold, and is recommended mostly on jewellery in terms of strength. Doesn't have richer gold color unlike 18k gold.

12karat gold - 50.0% gold, 50.0% other metals. Not recommended for jewellery as richer gold color diminishes because there is a higher other metal content.

10karat gold - Contains 41.7% gold, 58.3% other metals. To be sold as real gold in United States, it must be at least 10k gold. In Canada, 9k is the limit while in Mexico, it must be 8k.

The more gold karat a gold necklace contains, the more rich gold color it posses and the more expensive it will be. Higher metal content can change the coloration of gold necklace as rose, green, or white.

If you want your gold necklace to stand out, choose an 18k gold necklace. If you have a smaller budget but want a good looking and strong gold necklace, 14k is acceptable. This is fairly common to jewellery industry and lots of jewelers create gold necklaces having 14k gold.

Consider the Trademark

Countries like United States have laws requiring that the placement of the manufacturer's trademark on karat-marked jewelries sold must be present. This makes more convenient as the manufacturers ensure the quality of the karat-mark being placed in gold necklaces as accurate.

So, do not just depend on a single jewelry store, look for other jewelers for comparison and for trademark assurance.

Assess the Price

Different jewelry stores have different prices of gold necklaces. They base the price on the following factors:

Design - does the gold necklace have engraving designs, etc.?

Karat weight - does it have 18k or 14k gold content?

Creation - how the gold necklace was made? Purely handmade or machine made with light handwork?

Most jewellery manufacturers now use modern and faster machineries to produce various and elegant designs of gold necklaces. Less handwork is included.

The price may vary mostly on the design, karat weight and maybe origin of the gold. Higher quality gold necklace means higher price.

Verify the Clasp

This is one of the factors you need to examine before deciding to buy a gold necklace. Clasp is the part of the gold necklace that supports the chain or locks the necklace.

Carefully examine how the clasp has been attached to the gold necklace. Does it have rough edges or it was not precisely attached to the chain?

Some jewelry stores sell gold necklaces even without karat mark or the manufacturer's trademark. This will test you the quality of the gold necklace you're buying.

If the gold necklace has been perfectly crafted, you will benefit from it in the long run and for many years to come.

If the gold has rich color, great design, and have a strong and durable quality, the gold necklace you have chosen will truly reveal its beauty once you wear it. Even for a lifetime, your gold necklace will stay beautiful as it is preserving its good quality.

14k Gold Necklace Buying Guide
A gold necklace with high quality gold content reveals outstanding color.

Gold Necklace Buying Guide

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