Gold has been the inspiration for jewellery since the beginning of time. It's coveted for its gleaming beauty and strong yet malleable nature. Gold will not rust, corrode or tarnish.

Gold is measured in karats, abbreviated as the letter "K" and preceded by a number. 100% pure gold is 24K. However, in its pure form, gold is too soft to be used in jewellery. In order to give it resilience to hold up to everyday wear, gold is alloyed with other metals.

Gold is Available in a Variety of Different Karats

22 karat (91.7% gold)
While beautiful, it is really too soft for use in jewellery as the gold would literally bend out of shape. You will often see antique 22k gold jewellery in museums.

18 karat (75% gold)
Excellent for use in fine jewellery with a rich, deep color. 18K gold is a little softer than 14K and will usually wear a little more, giving it a soft patina.

14 karat (58.3% gold)
Great for use in traditional jewellery. This is a hard, resilient metal that will maintain much of its original look (polish and detail) for many years.

12 karat (50% gold)
We do not use nor recommend below 14k as the color is not an attractive, rich hue at this percentage.

10 karat (41.7% gold)
Although this is the minimum legal karatage allowed to be called gold in the US, we do not use nor recommend it for jewellery.

Yellow Gold

At Vivo Diamonds we offer both 14k and 18k yellow gold settings for our diamond jewellery. If you prefer a deep, rich, golden color, we recommend 18k. Many people also enjoy the traditional color of 14k yellow gold. The choice is entirely up to you.

White Gold

At Vivo Diamonds we offer both 14k and 18k white gold settings. Although much whiter in color than yellow gold, 14k white gold has a subtle yellow hue because it is made with 58.3% yellow gold. To increase the white color, rhodium is plated over our 14K white gold settings. (Rhodium is a hard, durable, silvery-white metal.) Eventually, the rhodium plating will wear off. Your local jeweller can easily re-plate the rhodium finish on your jewellery to restore its shiny white color. Your 14K white gold jewellery should be re-plated about once a year.

Platinum, like gold, has a long and distinguished history and remains one of the world's most rare metals. The annual worldwide production of platinum amounts to some 160 tons, compared to about 1500 tons of gold. It can only be found in very few regions of the world - South Africa being the leading platinum-producing country. Platinum is far more valuable than gold, and more expensive.

Platinum has become increasingly popular in recent years because of its beauty and durability. It has a rich, silvery-white color and a deep luster. It's unique cool white sheen makes platinum a popular choice for settings, as it accentuates the sparkle and brilliance of a diamond like no other. Platinum is often the precious metal of choice to produce the finest jewelry with the most valuable gems, as it is very tarnish and scratch-resistant.

The most appealing characteristic of platinum is its strength and durability - it is by far the strongest and most durable of the precious metals. Each time other metals are scratched or polished, a small amount of metal is lost. Eventually, prongs of yellow and white gold may wear down enough that they must be reinforced with more metal for safety. Not with platinum. It may scratch and leave a mark on the metal, but it will not chip or splinter easily. Platinum is actually an alloyed group of six closely related metals - platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. Today it is often alloyed with titanium and copper. Most platinum jewelry is 95% pure platinum mixed with 5% iridium, palladium, or ruthenium alloy for added strength. It can also be 90% pure platinum with 10% alloys. To guarantee its quality, each piece of jewelry should be stamped with "950 Plat" indicating 95% purity or "900 Plat" indicating 90% purity. Because of its purity, platinum is ideal for people who are allergic to other metals. It rarely causes a reaction.

Pricing of Platinum

Compared to gold, platinum is heavier, more rare, and more valuable. It is also more durable than gold and sold in purer form. Platinum is not sold by karat weight. Platinum's density and weight give it a different feel from other precious metals and is almost twice as heavy as 14kt gold. This heaviness when used in fine jewellery is one of platinum's strongest selling points, as people tend to equate weight with value.

Pricing of Gold

The price of gold jewelry is based on the purity of gold used or karat weight, as well as the design and craftsmanship of the piece. With greater karat weight comes a higher purity of gold, a heavier piece of jewellery, and greater cost.

Was your questions answered? Click here to contact us today