How To Buy, Clean and Care for Gold Jewelry

Chances are you already have some gold in your jewelry box. Gold is a very popular choice and it is always very stylish. If you are in the market for more gold jewelry, here are some things to know before you make this purchase:

How to Buy Gold:

1. Do your homework before you buy.

2. Understand that there are variations in gold that affect its color, quality and price.
3. The main factors to consider include karat weight and gram weight, color and style.
4. When it comes to karat weight, most gold has markings inside that indicate its purity. In the United States, the most common options are 10K, 14K or 18K. The higher the number, the higher the gold purity is in the piece. (Anything 10K and up is considered pure gold.)
5. The gram weight indicates how much the item weighs or how much gold was used in the piece. This is an important detail, since the higher the gram weight, the stronger the jewelry is and usually the more it is worth.
6. Therefore, look for highest quality at the lowest price per gram to get the best deal.
7. Shop around to see what color gold you prefer, since gold has many variations. In addition to yellow gold, white gold and rose gold are also popular options. You can also find many two-tone styles, if you prefer a mix of colors.
8. Try on lots of styles to see what suits you the best.
9. If your budget is small, consider going for gold-plated jewelry, which is jewelry that has a gold coating layered on top of a less expensive metal.
10. Gold filled jewelry is another option that contains more gold that gold plated pieces but is still less expensive.
11. Whatever karat, weight and color you pick, be sure that the piece is well made. When you find something you love, check the joints of the jewelry and the craftsmanship before you buy.

How to Clean Gold:

1. You can clean gold jewelry with a soft toothbrush and some soapy water (dishwashing liquid works fine for this).

2. Dip the toothbrush in the water and use it to get into all of the crevices.
3. Rinse the piece in warm water until the water runs clear.
4. Buff your piece dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to make it shine.
5. If you prefer, you can also use a non-abrasive jewelry cleaner that you can buy at the store. If your gold jewelry contains gemstones, check to make sure that the cleaner is safe to use with them.

How to Care for Gold:

1. It is important to take care of your gold pieces.

2. Don't wear them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since this will make them more likely to get damaged over time.
3. When you do take off your gold pieces, store them in a velvet-lined jewelry box or case that contains compartments for each item. Or, separately wrap each piece in tissue paper and keep in small bags or pouches.
4. Keep your diamond jewelry separate because the hard stone can scratch your gold easily.
5. Make sure your jewelry is dry when you put it away, because moisture can cause springs and clasps to weaken over time.