Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode, and though it's very strong, it is also the most malleable of all metals.

PURITY
Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of every-day wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.

24 Carat = 100% gold
18 Carat =   75% gold
9 Carat =   37.5% gold

Colour
The colour of gold is determined by two factors:

• The type of metal alloys included in it
• The percentage of each metal alloy

Yellow Gold
At Pave’ Creations you'll find 18ct and 9ct yellow gold pieces. 18ct gold contains more precious metal than 9ct gold. It is composed of 75% gold, which is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough to withstand every-day wear. Because 9ct gold is composed of only 37.5% gold, and 62.5% other metals that give it strength, its gold colour is not generally as rich as 18ct gold but in. 9ct gold is most commonly found in cases where strength is most important, like in earring backs and bracelet clasps, but is also very commonly used for chains and rings.

White Gold
White gold has the same properties as yellow gold, but it has been mixed with different metals to give it a white colour. Instead of the copper and silver used in yellow gold, white gold contains such metals as nickel, zinc, platinum and palladium. However, white gold should not be confused with platinum, which is much rarer than gold and hence more valuable.

The karat weight system used in white gold is the same as that used in yellow gold. 18ct yellow gold and 18ct white gold contain the same proportion of gold; only the remaining 25% of the alloy is different.  To enhance the whiteness, almost all white gold is plated with rhodium, a shiny, white metal which is extremely hard. Depending on the amount of wear to a piece of jewellery, over time this rhodium plating may wear off, revealing the original metal colour. Re-plating is a simple process that can be done to restore your jewellery's whiteness if needed.

White gold was developed to give a different look to jewellery. The white colour is an excellent setting for very white diamonds, and when used side by side with yellow gold, it creates a striking effect. Jewellery using both white and yellow gold is called "two-tone."

Rose Gold
Rose gold gets its colour from a larger proportion of copper in the metal alloy. This gives the gold a beautiful pink colour.

Pricing
The price of gold jewellery is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or karat weight, as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewellery.

Care
Keep your gold jewellery away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's lustre. To clean gold jewellery, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well). Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.