Gold Jewelry, Earrings, and Charms
Welcome
to custergold.com.
Gold has been worshipped, hoarded, adored, stolen, traded, and bartered
for thousands of years. The reasons for the enduring nature of gold
are not difficult to find. Gold is insoluble in nitric acid –
which does dissolve other base metals and silver and is the origin of
the phrase “Acid test,” which refers to the gold standard
test that reveals genuine value.
Gold jewelry has been around since at least ancient Egypt. Melting your
gold down into a piece of jewelry was a way of keeping your gold protected
while showing off your status to other, gold-less people.
Gold is the softest and most capable of being hammered, drawn out into
wire or threads, and of being shaped and molded. One single gram of
gold can be beaten into a sheet of one square meter. Gold is also a
good conductor of heat and electricity and is an especially strong reflector
of infrared radiation. Gold is also very dense, which makes sense when
considering how ductile it is.
Pure gold has the color of metallic yellow – as alloys are created
using silver, copper, etc., the color changes accordingly. Aluminum,
iron, indium and manganese are also sometimes added to gold for strength
and/or color.
Metallic gold is also known to be inert (having no ability to react)
in all body chemistry. It is tasteless and does not alter the body in
any way.
Gold has been used in a number of ways throughout human history:
• For monetary exchange – gold was the standard by which
all currency used to be measured. The U.S. abandoned this form of currency
in 1993 and outlawed the possession of gold except as jewelry and other
nonmonetary forms such as dental fillings.
• Medicine – the isotope gold-198 is used in some cancer
treatments. In modern times injectable gold has proven to reduce swelling
and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Colloidal gold is used in research
for medicine, biology and science.
• Dentistry – crowns and bridges are two ways restorative
dentistry makes use of gold.
• Food & drink – gold flakes, dust and powder is used
for decoration on cakes, pastries and in drinks. Since gold is inert
to body chemistry it does not affect the body at all.
• Industry – gold can be made into thread for embroidery,
solder for joining together pieces of gold jewelry, it’s even
used as the reflective coating on some compact discs.
• Electronics - gold is used in the connectors of the more expensive
electronics cables, such as video, audio, and USB cables. Audio-visual
experts deem this unnecessary for most consumers. The use of gold in
other electrical applications remains very common. It is also used in
electrical contacts because of its resistance to corrosion, ductile
nature, non-toxic nature and properties of electrical conductivity.
If you like the look of gold, but cant afford real gold, fools gold is used instead to make fashion jewelry.
Gold jewelry remains a timeless and classic gift for any occasion. Whether
it’s gold rings, gold earrings, gold necklaces or bracelets, gold
will always be popular and in demand. Be sure to check back at custergold.com
often for updates and changes to the great information here and in our
Learning Center.