What is a Precious Metal?

Posted by Maree Harper on

Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium and Titanium are all precious metals, meaning they are rare metallic chemical elements of high economic value. They are shiny, hard and strong with high melting points. They form alloys (mixtures) with other metals and this makes them ideal for jewellery.

At LoveLoops we use sterling silver and 9 carat gold so let’s look at those.

Gold is a highly sought-after rare metallic element. For many centuries gold has been used for money, jewellery and ornamentation - symbolising wealth and prosperity.

Like other precious metals, gold is measured by troy weight and by grams. Gold is a very soft metal when it is pure (24ct). It is often alloyed with other metals to make it harder though this lessens the value. Pure gold has an attractive bright yellow colour however when alloyed with other metals it can come in other colours.

Nine Carat Yellow Gold

Nine carat yellow gold is a metal alloy that contains 37.5% gold, 52.1% copper-zinc and 10.4% silver. Nine carat gold contains a smaller percentage of gold metal than 18ct gold, is slightly harder wearing than 18ct Gold, and has a more mellow, less yellow, colour. Gold in 9ct will be stamped with the '375' marking to prove it's authenticity.

Nine Carat White Gold

Nine carat white gold is a metal alloy that contains 37.5% gold in alloy with silver, copper and a white metal such as nickel, manganese or palladium. All white gold has a yellowish hue so it is usually plated with rhodium to give it a very white appearance. We do not plate our LoveLoops in rhodium as we use a very good quality white gold with a low level of hue, and we believe in staying true to the natural appearance of the metal.

Nine Carat Rose Gold

Nine carat rose gold (also known as red gold) is a metal alloy that contains 37.5% gold in alloy with copper.

Silver 

Silver (Ag) - Silver was once thought to be more precious than gold. It is a very soft metal and is often mixed with an alloy like copper.

Silver has been used to make jewellery for many thousands of years. The term "Sterling Silver" probably originated in eastern Germany where they minted coins of .925 percent silver. Sterling Silver is an alloy (mixture) of silver containing a minimum of 92.5% by mass of silver with the remaining % by mass of other metals, usually copper.

Fine silver (99.9% pure) can be too soft for producing delicate pieces therefore the silver is alloyed with copper to give it strength while preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal. Sterling Silver pieces are stamped with 'STG' or '925' markings.

LoveLoops silver products do not contain nickel. 

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