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Obviously the choice of metals is
an individual one. Many like the traditional look of white gold
or platinum alone but a mixture of white & yellow, or white
and rose gold is very popular.
GOLD
Pure gold is the most malleable
and ductile of all metals it can be beaten, hammered and pulled
into wire. Gold is bright yellow and has a high lustre. It is
extremely Inactive, unaffected by air, head, moisture and most
solvents.
Fine pure gold is considered too
soft for the production of Jewellery and is therefore combined
with other metals to produce an alloy. The selection of the other
metals depends on practical and aesthetic considerations such
as pliability or colour.
There are a number of alloys commonly
used to produce gem set and other jewellery. The most common in
parts per thousand are:-
| |
Gold |
Silver |
Copper |
Nickel |
Zinc |
Palladium |
| 18ct yellow |
750 |
125 |
125 |
|
|
|
| 18ct hard white |
750 |
|
|
190 |
60 |
|
| 18ct soft white |
750 |
75 |
|
|
|
175 |
| 14ct yellow |
585 |
265 |
150 |
|
|
|
| 14ct rose |
585 |
90 |
325 |
|
|
|
| 9ct yellow |
375 |
200 |
393 |
|
32 |
|
| 9ct white |
375 |
575 |
50 |
|
|
|
| 9ct white hard |
375 |
525 |
25 |
25 |
50 |
|
Fourteen carat is not used much in Australia.
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