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Golden Rules for Buying Gold Jewelry
Know your karats
Look for the karat mark, which will tell you that the piece is real gold and the percentage of pure gold it contains. Pure gold, or 24K, has a deeply warm and rich color, but it is extremely soft and easily damaged. For this reason, pieces made from pure gold take on unique stamps of individuality with wear. Oftentimes, gold is alloyed with other metals, such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc to give it strength and durability. Different proportions of these alloys also give gold its rose, green, or white coloration. 18K gold is 75% gold; 14K is 58.5%; and 10K is 41.6%. The higher the karatage, the richer the color will be and the more costly. In the U.S. jewelry must be at least 10K to be legally sold as real gold. (In Canada and Mexico, the minimum legal standard of karatage is 9K and 8K respectively.) Imported gold jewelry may be stamped with different numbers. For example, the European marking for 14 karat gold jewelry is 585; for 18K it is 750. Note: Don't be confused with "carats," the weight and measure used for diamonds and other gems.
Look for the trademark
On karat-marked jewelry sold in the U.S., always look for the manufacturer's trademark. By U.S. law it must be there. When there's a hallmark, it means the manufacturer stands behind the accuracy of the karat mark. You may also find the country of origin marked.
Evaluate the price
In addition to karat weight, the price of gold jewelry is determined by several factors: total weight; design and construction; and ornamental detailing, such as engraving or Florentine finish. Although nearly all gold jewelry today is made with the help of special machines, some handwork is always involved. The more there is, the higher the price. The good news is that through modern manufacturing technology, large, lightweight, and exciting pieces can be surprisingly affordable.
Check the clasp
When buying a gold necklace or bracelet, make sure you examine the clasp to see if it is strong enough to support the chain, especially if the piece does not have a hallmark. Run your hand over the chain and look for any rough edges. A well-made piece of gold jewelry should look and feel like the quality piece it is. And if you take the time to look it over, you will have a piece that, with good care, can last a lifetime.
* Tips provided by "The Jewelry Information Center (www.jewelryinfo.org)
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Jewelry Hookup is committed to bringing our customers the finest merchandise at the best possible prices.
All of the jewelry featured on this site is manufactured in New York and the watches are manufactured by Croton Watch Co., Inc. (195 Anderson Avenue Moonachie, NJ 07074).
We feature items that are 14 karat, 10 karat, 18 karat gold and platinum.
Each year, our manufacturer produces a new full color 92-page catalog featuring over 2,500 styles including basic chain, figaro, 18kt, 14kt, 10kt, anklets, pearls, belly rings, toe rings, fancy ladies and men's bracelets, xo, ID, necklaces and earrings, bangles and men’s bracelets and necklaces.
Croton Watch Co. Inc. has been in business since 1878. The Croton line of watches includes Aquamatic, Chronomaster, sterling silver, 18kt gold, reliance, diamond and a large assortment of pocket watches. In addition, every Croton watch is backed by a written
warranty and operating instructions. Click here for Croton Watch.
Welcome to our online store.....We may be a small online business headquartered in New Jersey but we're big on
customer satisfaction. Since 1996 when we opened our online doors, our goal has been to provide our customers with the finest selection to choose from along with personalized service and a safe secure shopping experience.
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Our selections range from rings, earrings, anklets, chains, bracelets, belly rings, toe rings, necklaces, pearls, watches and much more. Merchandise that makes the perfect gift for any occasion.
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