How do you choose gold jewelry? Do you check all the necessary things beforehand? Buying gold jewelry is more than just buying the style you like, as there are several things you need to consider before buying the perfect piece. So in this blog post, we will talk about what you should check before buying gold jewelry.

Is it Real Gold?

The first thing you should check when shopping for gold jewelry is whether the jewelry you are purchasing is real gold. Despite advertising as “14K”, some brands actually sell 925 sterling silver coated in 14K gold. So always check the description or the materials section to make sure you are buying solid gold. While gold-plated jewelry can be a cheaper option, if you want a piece of jewelry that will last you the rest of your life, then solid gold is the only right choice. With proper care and maintenance, gold jewelry will always have its first-day shine and brilliance!

Color

The color is not something you should check, but rather something you should determine yourself, as once you choose the color you want, it’s easier to move forward. Keep in mind that the color of the gold may affect the price, but it’s not a great difference that will affect your final decision. For example, take a look at our Rope Chain Necklace 10K Rose Gold - Hollow, Rope Chain Necklace 10K White Gold - Hollow, and Rope Chain Necklace 10K Yellow Gold - Hollow in 2mm width and 18” length—notice how there is a $20 difference between yellow and white gold, and $15 difference between white and rose gold? This is often because of the composition differences between different colors of gold, as different metals mixed with pure gold may affect the price of the finished product.

Karat

The karat is often the main indicator of the price. The “K” in gold jewelry refers to the karat, which is the purity of gold. 10K typically contains 41.7% pure gold mixed with metal alloys made of silver, nickel, and iron, and 14K contains 58.3% pure gold mixed with silver, copper, and palladium alloy metals. Because gold is a soft metal, it’s prone to scratching and bending, that’s why other metals are used in making gold jewelry to make it harder and more durable. So 24K, which is 100% pure gold, is not ideal for jewelry as it’s not as durable as 10K and 14K gold.

But a higher purity of gold doesn’t actually make a gold jewelry more durable. Interestingly, a 10K gold chain is more durable than a 14K gold chain, because of the other metals used in its making.

Weight

The weight of a gold jewelry is one of the most important factors in determining its value, which generally has to do with the karat and style of the jewelry. For example, take a look at our Miami Cuban Link Chain Necklace 10K Yellow Gold - Hollow and Miami Curb Link Chain Necklace 10K Yellow Gold - Hollow. Both chains in 4.5mm width and 24” length are made with 10K hollow gold, but while the Miami Cuban Link Chain contains 11.03 grams of gold, the Miami Curb Link Chain contains 6.70 grams of gold, which results in a $500 difference. But you can see that the links of the Cuban Link Chain are much thicker than the links of the Curb Link Chain, which affects the weight of the chain.

For chains and bracelets, the length also impacts the weight and value. If the length is longer, that means more links will be used, so the weight and cost will change depending on the size. So the thicker and longer the chain, the higher the cost.

Solid vs Hollow

If you are looking for chains and bracelets especially, there is one more thing you should consider and that’s whether it’s solid or hollow. Even though both solid and hollow are made with real gold, as the name suggests, solid chains feature solid metal throughout their links, and hollow chains have hollow centers. So it’s actually related to the weight of the piece. For example, our Figaro Link Bracelet 10K Yellow Gold - Hollow and Figaro Link Bracelet 10K Yellow Gold - Solid in 3.5mm width and 8” length, have a $100 difference. But if you look closer, you will see that the solid bracelet contains 3.04 grams of gold, while the hollow bracelet contains 1.58 grams.

Price

Always shop around first before committing to see what the market price is. If a price is too good to be true, it probably is. If you see very cheap gold jewelry, it is most likely gold-plated. So always shop around, compare the prices, and check the description section to make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

Seller

The overall most important thing when it comes to buying gold jewelry is the seller. When shopping around, you may notice that prices differ slightly despite all being real gold. So the brand can also impact the price of gold jewelry, but that doesn’t mean you should buy the cheapest option as reputable brands offer higher quality materials with excellent craftsmanship. When buying gold jewelry, you should always choose reputable brands you trust to ensure you are getting your money’s worth. At Bayam Jewelry, all our gold jewelry are handmade with the highest quality materials. We also offer lifetime warranty for all our products against defects in material and workmanship, so we offer ease of mind together with excellent quality, stylish jewelry.

After You Receive Your Gold Jewelry

Real gold jewelry have stamps to indicate its purity, ie its karat weight. Reputable sellers stamp their jewelry so you should see 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K stamped on your gold jewelry. So make sure to check for the hallmark.

Enjoy Reliable and Long-Lasting Gold Jewelry with Bayam

Overall, purchasing gold jewelry involves more than just selecting a design you like. It requires careful consideration of various factors such as authenticity, color, karat, weight, and type. While these aspects may seem overwhelming at first, they ultimately contribute to the value, durability, and longevity of your investment. By following these guidelines, you can make informed decisions and enjoy your gold jewelry for years to come.

Additionally, it’s crucial to buy from reputable sellers to ensure quality craftsmanship and authenticity. At Bayam Jewelry, we only sell real gold jewelry and we guarantee that our gold jewelry are worth the money. Whatever your style preferences, we’ve got you covered. So go to Bayam Jewelry and elevate your style with our reliable and long-lasting gold jewelry.