Yellow Gold
Gold
Gold rings have a remarkably storied tradition. Naturally found, gold (element Au) has been a constant in jewellery and human culture from the first and was one of the earliest identified metals. Favoured for its distinct yellow colour and strength it is also the most malleable of the precious metals.
Purity
Pure gold is too soft for everyday wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability.
The carat (ct) is the measue of gold content. We craft our jewellery using 18ct (composed of 75% gold and alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough for everyday wear), 14 ct (composed of 58.5% gold and 41.5% pure alloys) and 9ct (37.5% pure gold with the remaining being 62.5% alloy).
Characteristics
Often beginning as a simple gift between loved-ones or a mark of celebration, it is gold jewellery’s distinct resilience to deterioration that alongside the colour and design are its most appealing characteristic.
Over the course of time then, the gold maintains its distinct yellow colour and can become an extraordinary heirloom whose heritage first rivals, and often comes to surpass, the gold’s own unique qualities.
Its malleability means gold is extremely easy to work. It can be beaten and stretched even when cold. One gram of gold can be transformed into a sheet measuring one metre squared.
Yellow Gold
Natural gold is mixed with alloys expertly chosen to both strengthen it and infuse warmth of colour, giving yellow gold jewellery its remarkable shine.
We use copper to augument the red hues and silver for the greens. It is the mixture of these three (the pure gold, with the copper and silver) that gives this precious metal its vivid warmth.
Choosing the Carat
18ct Gold
The quintessential metal with high gold purity that is highly valued
75.0% gold
A storied carat that has historically been favoured when choosing a metal to mark important celebrations.
Its malleabilty makes it extremely easy to work.
Simple to polish and repair
Rust and tarnishing resistant
18ct yellow gold is rich in colour
Has a traceable cultural heritage and best exemplifies the natural properties of gold that first fired the imaginations of alchemists and goldsmiths
14ct Gold
An extremely popular carat in fine jewellery
58.5% gold
Highly regarded by craftsmen and designers for its strength and resiliance
Less expensive than 18ct gold to produce and craft
Simple to polish and repair
Rust and tarnishing resistant
14ct Yellow gold is more modest in colour in comparison to 18ct
14ct Yellow Gold is the strongest and most durable of the yellow golds, with 18ct and 9ct being of relatively equal strength
(In the case of White Gold 18ct is the strongest, followed by 14ct, then 9ct)
9ct Gold
A metal that produces a muted gold colour, giving the ring a more minimal aesthetic
37.5% gold
A contemporary metal that mutes the richness of higher carats in favour more discreet appearance, without diminishing the metal’s aura
Most inexpensive and accessible carat of gold
While retaining the awe and natural properties of this classic metal