Gold Earring Buyers Guide

 Whether you're buying gold earrings as a gift or for yourself, it's important to know the true value of the opal bracelet you're buying. The first thing to mention is the karat purity of the gold. This is a fineness index used to rate the amount of gold in any piece of gold jewelry. This means that for every milligram of gold, other metals make up 23 milligrams. Normally, Opal Rings starts at 9ct clarity. Gold-plated jewelry can have a carat value for the plating and various metals that make up the bulk of the item. Any solid gold jewelery needs a hallmark to be sold in the UK, but the hallmark alone does not guarantee that the jewelery is gold. Silver and platinum jewelery also needs a hallmark to be sold in the UK. A three-digit number should be engraved into the metal to indicate its purity. These numbers range from 375 which is 9 ct and 999 which is 24 ct.

 

Gold Earring Designs

 

First, classic gold hoop earrings are often too large to be solid, so they are hollowed out for comfort, but the metal they are made from can still be of high carat purity, and that determines the price. Next up is a classic gold tear drop earring. Unlike hoop earrings, these are usually smaller and can be made of solid gold. When the main part of the earring is attached directly to the bar that holds it in place, it is called a stud earring. This design is also small enough to be made of solid gold and can be embellished with one or more precious stones.

 

Precious stones for gold opal earrings

 

Diamonds are a very popular stone for gold earrings. Depending on the carat weight of the diamond, the stone can make up the majority of the price. Although diamonds are one of the strongest substances known to man, they can be cut from specific angles. Experienced jewelers are able to set diamonds in such a way that none of these angles are revealed once the stone is in place. Another widely used gemstone is Peridot, this stone has a brilliant green color and although olivine (a constituent mineral) is quite abundant, gem quality peridot is quite rare. You can also find earrings set with opal. Most of this mineral is produced in Australia. This gem can be found in a variety of colors from white to black. The most common is white and green, while black and red is the rarest. Amethyst is a rare type of quarts. These volcanic rocks are usually purple, but turn yellow when exposed to heat. Modern manufacturing techniques mean that this stone can be manufactured as opposed to quarried. Distinguishing between natural and artificial amethyst is very difficult. Another gemstone commonly used in earrings is Topaz, in its purest form Topaz is transparent, but often impurities give the stone a tint. Topaz is often processed to give it a special color. Rubies are also used to decorate earrings. Stones made from corundum that are not red are classified as sapphire.