When purchasing an item of quality jewellery, it’s important to do your
research, this includes the material which the jewellery is crafted.
Jewellery can be made from a wide variety of different materials including
precious metals and even some species of wood.
One very popular material for numerous different items of jewellery is
gold, with a variety of items to choose from on both the new and pre-owned
markets. However, before you purchase an item of gold jewellery such as a
second hand gold chain or a new gold ring, there are a few
things you should know.
Purchasing Second Hand Gold, 3 Things You Should Know
1.
Understand The Carat System
Gold is measured in 24ths. This means that 24 carat gold is 100% gold.
In order to work out other carats and their percentage, simply divide the
number by 24 and multiply it by 100. For example, 18 carat gold is 75% pure
gold. Some types of jewellery add other metals to the gold in order to
change the colour; some examples of metals mixed into the gold are white
gold with silver or rose gold with copper, this will also result in a lower
carat. This means that 14 carat rose gold might be 14 parts pure gold and
10 parts copper (or another alloy). In the United Kingdom, one of the most
popular carats for jewellery is 9 carat; however across the pond in the US
the most popular variant is 14 carat.
The variety of carats can provide shoppers searching second-hand
collections with a wide range of options depending on the original market
intended for the item. For example, a gold chain intended for the US market
may be 14ct, whereas one intended for the UK market may be 9ct.
Additionally, it’s also important to note that 18 carat gold is the ideal
choice for anyone suffering from allergies as this level of gold purity
does not cause allergic skin reactions.
2.
Check For A Hallmark
When shopping for gold jewellery, it is very important that you check for
the appropriate hallmarks. Jewellery may be gold plated with 18 carat gold,
however the material underneath is left a mystery. So if you’re searching
for a valuable gold item of jewellery, make sure the relevant hallmarks are
also present.
With regards to gold, the hallmarks to look out for are 375 (9ct), 585
(13ct), 750 (18ct), 916 (22ct), and 990 (24ct).
3.
Know The Difference Between Gold, Gold Filled, And Vermeil
There are numerous things to watch out for when searching for gold
jewellery. Some items of gold jewellery may include gold in the piece, but
also include other materials.
An example of jewellery that includes gold and different type of metal is
jewellery material known as vermeil. Vermeil is sterling silver which has
been coated with at least 1.5 microns of gold at least 10carat or higher.
This material will be hallmarked to display the metals used. Materials such
as vermeil are a good option for those searching for stylish gold coloured
jewellery at a lower price.
However, vermeil isn’t the only source of confusion for those new to gold
jewellery and hallmarks. Gold filled jewellery can also cause some
confusion. This style of jewellery contains a layer of gold which is
attached to another metal (e.g. brass).
An item of gold filled jewellery will have a mark to identify its carat,
which is displayed as a fraction out of 20 (as gold filled items must be
made up of one fifth gold). For example, 14 carat gold filled jewellery
will be marked as 14/20. As such, it is very important to remember that a
gold filled markings are not hallmarks and as such you should not confuse
14ct gold filled jewellery with 14ct gold jewellery.
Find The Ideal Gold Chain On The Mallard Jewellers Online Store
Gold chains are a popular item of jewellery worn by men and women of
various different ages. They can be subtle chains with little or no
decoration, or alternatively they can be very ‘fancy’ pieces displaying
patterns or perhaps even a pendant.
Second hand collections of gold jewellery are the ideal place to find gifts
for loved ones who appreciate vintage styles of jewellery. When searching
through new items, you’re restricted to styles and trends of what is
currently fashionable. However, with second hand and pre-owned collections
of jewellery, you can browse through pieces which in beautiful vintages
styles such as the scalloped Art Nouveau designs of the 1910s or the
ultra-feminine glamour style of the 1950s.
For More Information Regarding Our Collection Of Second Hand Gold
Chains, Get In Touch With Our Team
Interested in purchasing a
second hand gold chain form our online store or have any
questions? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of staff by
giving us a call on
01268 534 343.
However, if you would prefer to browse through our range of second hand
jewellery and ask your questions to our team in person, please visit your
local Mallard Jewellers branch. There are numerous Mallard Jewellers
branches to choose from with locations such as Southend-On-Sea, Leicester,
and Peterborough. You can discover the location of your local Mallard
Jewellers branch by clicking the ‘Our Stores’ link at the top of this page.
This page also contains information about the address, contact information,
and opening times of your local branch.
