Shopping for gold jewelry can be an intimidating task. Gold jewelry is not only beautiful, but is also resistant to rust, tarnish, and corrosion. When well cared for, gold jewelry can passed down from generation to generation as heirloom treasures. Given that all that glitters is not gold, we've compiled a list of characteristics you may wish to consider when purchasing gold jewelry.
Purity: The monetary value of gold is determined, in part, by its purity or fineness. In the United States, gold purity is measured in karats. U.S. law requires the karat purity trademark to be stamped on all gold jewelry produced in the United States. The karat measurement divides the purity of gold into 24ths. The karat number you see stamped on gold jewelry tells you how many parts gold it contains out of a total of 24.
Gold is the most malleable of all precious metals,with a rating of 2.5 - 3 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness. Pure gold in its natural element form is much too soft to be used to create jewelry for everyday wear, so it is alloyed with other metals like silver, platinum, palladium, zinc, and copper to help increase its strength and durability. Without the addition of alloys, pure gold jewelry would easily bend, dent, stretch and wear down quickly.
The common gold karat hallmarks in USA are 10k, 14k, 18k, and 24k, with 14k and 18k being the most common purity used to create fine jewelry. The gold karat hallmark is usually found in an inconspicuous place so as not to distract from the design. Do not be afraid to ask your jeweler where the gold karat hallmark is located if you’re having trouble finding it.
24k gold is 100% pure natural gold.
18k gold is 75% pure gold combined with 25% of additional metal alloys.
14k gold is 58.3% pure gold combined with 41.7% of additional metal alloys.
10k gold is 41.7% pure gold combined with 58.3% of additional metal alloys.
Color: The color of gold is determined by two factors: The type of metal alloys that are combined with pure 24k gold as well as the ratio of each metal alloy used to create the finished piece. In it's purest form, 24k gold has a rich, deeply saturated yellow hue.
Yellow gold is created by alloying pure 24k gold with copper and silver. Yellow gold has the sunny, warm appearance commonly associated with gold jewelry.
White gold has a silver/platinum appearance and is created by alloying pure 24k gold with platinum or palladium, zinc, and copper. White gold is frequently plated with rhodium. While rhodium is an extremely hard element, the plating may wear away over time. White gold jewelry can be replated with rhodium to restore the silver whiteness to your jewelry.
Rose gold has a distinctly pink hue and is created by alloying pure 24k gold solely with copper.
Composition: The composition of gold jewelry, whether solid gold, gold filled, rolled gold, vermeil, or gold plated is a key indicator in quality.
Solid - Solid gold jewelry is created using the same karat material throughout the entire piece. There are no hollow or plated parts. Simply stated, this is as good as it gets.
Gold Filled (GF) - Gold fill is similar to the gold plating process described below, but the gold is heat fused and pressure bonded to the base metal, rather than simply being dipped in gold. Gold filled jewelry must have a minimum purity of 10K gold and the gold content must be at least 1/20th of the weight of the metal piece. Gold filled jewelry is an affordable alternative to solid gold, with greater durability than gold plated jewelry.
Rolled Gold (RG) - The same process as gold filled but without the 1/20th weight requirement. Rolled gold jewelry is usually made by rolling out sheets from which the jewelry is then molded or “formed.” Rolled gold contains 100 times more gold than average gold plated jewelry. Rolled gold jewelry is ideal for those who wish to save on costs or those who are worried about losing or misplacing very expensive jewelry.
Vermeil - The industry standard definition of vermeil is sterling silver that has been plated with gold with a minimum of 2.5 microns in thickness (1 micron is 1 millionth of an inch). While vermeil jewelry will be considerable less expensive, it is also more prone to wear.
Gold Plated (GP) - Sometimes referred to as Electroplate (EP), gold plated jewelry is similar to vermeil in that it is dipped in gold, but gold plated jewelry is crafted using steel or brass, rather than sterling silver, as the base metal. Gold plating has no legal regulatory requirements on how thick the gold layer must be, so the durability and quality of gold plated jewelry can widely vary as the thickness of the plating will determine how long a piece will retain its golden shine.
We welcome you to visit us online at clothedwithtruth.com to explore our faith based collections of 14k solid gold jewelry.
This company is the best company I have worked with in a long time. If could I would I would give them 100 stars. They were easy to work with, very kind and their main goal was to ensure I was satisfied with my bracelet. I did have to return my bracelet only because of my preference and they made the process so easy. They even called me to better understand what I wanted. It was an amazing experience. I would recommend this business to anyone and everyone. Thank you for displaying Christian principles in your business.
Best customer service I have experienced in a while! I placed my order for a personalized dog tag with a Bible scripture and the very next day I got a phone call from them verifying the proof they emailed me. They wanted to make sure that I was going to love it before they sent it to me! So kind of them to go the extra step...and the jewelry is Sterling Silver and not cheap junk. I will definitely order from them again. This company operates with integrity and kindness!
Amazing his/hers cuff bracelets. Exceptional quality, truly blessed company and professional but old school owners. Would definitely recommend Clothedwithtruth to anyone looking for jewelry that displays their love for Christ. Amen!
This bracelet is perfect for the women and teens in my life. The packaging is beautiful, too, saving me wrapping time. Shipped quickly and I received a personal phone call to help me clarify and update my order. The best customer service and personal touches I’ve ever experienced.
And in our world today we are so use to being disappointed it was breathe to my soul to receive these beautiful bracelets exactly as pictured and on time. While we know this isn’t always possible I particularly appreciated all the communication I received as the bracelets were in process and transport as well as the sweet note from the owners that was enclosed in the packaging. Thank you! You made me feel like I was getting a gift!
I reached out to the owners because I needed some larger quantities for an event. I was thrilled with the prompt and professional response. Deborah really was able to help with different choices and personalization's that made our gifts extra special. I cannot say enough about dealing with people who truly care about their customers --it SHOWS! It is a pleasure doing business with them, and everything I ordered was so very true to picture and much better quality than I was expecting for the cost. Really exceeded expectations!! I would highly recommend them for church groups, bible studies and anybody needing a beautiful gift. THANK YOU!
What a breath of fresh air to have a small business with excellent customer service. The item I ordered was shipped promptly. The day I received the item was a particularly stressful day so when I opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised to receive the item in a beautiful bag/box with a handwritten thank you note on the receipt. It certainly brightened my day and reaffirmed that there are good people in this world. I will definitely be purchasing again from Clothed With Truth. Thank you!
What a special place to shop!! Clothed with Truth was so helpful to me in ordering a gift for a dear friend. They are top-notch in customer service and support, going out of their way to send my order so it was received on time. My friend loves her new bracelet, too! They also enclosed a special gift note! Thank you for a great experience and I will be back!
This was the most thoughtful and meaningful company I have purchased from in quite a while. They were impeccable with customer service, showing care and concern through confirmation emails, and thank you cards included in the package. I was very impressed with the level of care taken through each step of the process. I truly appreciated this as the time of the purchase was one of loss and sadness. I am grateful for the pointed effort to reach out to their customers. This company is true to their name.
Everything about this order was absolutely perfect! The customer service is top notch. Seriously, the best I’ve seen in a very long time and I am an avid online shopper.
The extra details truly make dealing with Clothed With Truth such a pleasure! I will certainly let my family and friends know about their wonderful services and products.
From the moment I placed the order, I knew exactly what was going on with it and where it was.
The piece is absolutely beautiful! I am beyond excited to give it to my niece as she makes her First Holy Communion this Saturday! The bracelet came in a white box with a pink ribbon around it, PLUS a pretty gift bag!! But wait, there is even MORE!! They sent a penny with a cross in it and a wonderful blessing! That will be an additional gift to my niece...and so special and heartfelt. I hope she will have it in her shoe on her wedding day one day!
Again, just an overall wonderful service. HIGHLY recommend! You will not be disappointed at all. And last, but certainly not least, it arrived so quickly!! Just a few days.
First time I've ordered from Clothed with Truth. I'm always hesitant to order on line. I will not hesitate to order from Rhett and Deborah at Clothed with Truth again. Not only are they trustworthy but amazingly efficient in their mailing process - took only 2 days to receive! The 10 Bethlehem Olive Wood Comfort Crosses (small palm size) were each unique and beautifully packaged. Such creative packaging and extra personal touches...coin cross card and exquisite business card - even handwritten Thank You on billing invoice. They are a Gift from God! *I'm doing my best to be a PR person for them !
The customer service is impeccable. They answered my questions promptly and throughly, anticipated my needs, and made ordering a piece of cake. The items arrived quickly and as promised. I wish all of my buying experiences were this perfect.
I have the bracelet and just had to have the pendant. It is beautiful!. I must say that you are a wonderful company to deal with. In this day and age it is a blessing to find both Christianity and good hearted people to work with. Thank you for your beautiful company and you too!!! I will be back. God bless you all!!!!🙏💕
While the mobius bracelet I purchased is a Christmas gift, I so enjoyed the entire experience of dealing with this shop. Delivery was timely, prices reasonable, and God honored throughout the entire experience. So unusual in today's market place. I absolutely will return to them in the future.
This bracelet is of really sturdy handmade quality, and the engraving is crisp and beautiful with an artisan flair. Speaking with Deborah to help me find the right thing for me was such a pleasure, and never in my years of shopping online have I encountered such godly and caring people. Never hesitate to order here! :)