If you’re interested in selling gold jewelry in Chicago, Chicago Gold Gallery has been paying top cash for gold since 1980, and the price we pay depends on many things, such as the type of gold the jewelry’s made of.
Please read on and we’ll try to provide a primer on the 11 types of gold commonly used for jewelry.
24-Karat Gold
This is gold in its purest form, measuring 99.9% pure. 24k gold items are extremely pliable and are very yellow. Mostly from China, Vietnam, Thailand regions.
21-22-Karat Gold
.900-.916 pure; popular in Southeast Asia usually Bangles, ornate necklaces, and earrings sometimes with enameled highlights
18-Karat Gold
This form of gold is 75% pure gold and 25% other metals, like copper and zinc, .750
14-Karat Gold
The most popular gold karat sold in the U.S., made of a mixture of 58.3%/ 58.5% gold and 41.7% other metals.
10-Karat Gold
A lower cost alternative usually used for high school class rings, it contains only 41.7% gold.
Yellow Gold
The most popular color for gold around the world and comes in a range of hues, depending on the metals mixed with it.
White Gold
An alloy of yellow gold and white metals, like nickel, and very popular for wedding and engagement rings.
Gold-Filled
A base metal has been coated with a gold alloy. The process melts the gold into the base metal, making it hard to rub off. Used in pocket watches, fraternity pins, vintage jewelry
Rolled Gold
As with gold-filled, it is created through mechanical bonding but contains only half the amount of gold found in gold-filled items. Many antique and vintage wrist watches are rolled gold.
Gold-Plated
Has an extremely thin layer of gold plated over brass or copper and is usually found on inexpensive costume jewelry. Not really valuable
8 Karat, 9 Karat, 15 Karat
Are also purities used in making jewelry as well as 16-karat dental gold.
That’s our brief summary of 11 types of gold commonly used in jewelry, and when you’re ready to sell and get top dollar for your gold items, bring them to the highest buyer in cook county, surrounding suburbs, and Illinois, call email and come into Chicago Gold Gallery.