Guide for buying gold jewellery

Gold jewellery can last a lifetime, especially when taken care of properly – which is why investing in the right gold piece can be a huge pay off, as you are likely to wear your favourite jewellery every single day. 

When purchasing new gold items, whether that’s gold pendants or gold earrings, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the jewellery you have bought is of a good standard and is value for money. Read our helpful guide to find out things you should consider when buying gold jewellery. 

Types of gold

• Yellow gold – this is the most traditional variation of gold and its still quite popular – many wedding rings are made from yellow gold. This gold in its purest form is too soft to be made into jewellery, so is often mixed with other alloys. 
• Rose gold – the ‘rose’ colour of this gold comes from the copper it is mixed with which gives it a pinkish colour. Choosing rose gold as metal for engagement rings have become increasingly more popular over the recent years!
• White gold – mainly mixed with more alloys in order to give it its bright white appearance, this gold is very durable. Choosing a white gold engagement ring creates a modern, sophisticated style ring, seen to be classy and timeless.

Tips for buying gold jewellery

Purity

Gold purity is determined by carats – for example, 24kt gold is considered 99.9% pure, so the lower the rating, the lower the purity of the gold. You can find out the purity of your gold jewellery by checking the hallmark – these are small engravings on your jewellery pieces which tells you the karat rating of the piece. For instance, on a ring they can be found on the inside or a necklace may have its hallmark attached to the latch.

What is hallmarking?

Hallmarking refers to the engravings on a piece of jewellery, this shows that it has been independently tested and verified and therefore conforms to all legal standards of purity or fineness. Hallmarking has a long history and has been practiced since the middle ages. Find out everything you need to know about hallmarking in our useful guide.

Price

The price is usually a good indicator of how pure the jewellery is – if you see a larger piece of gold jewellery priced at an unusually low price, this might be because of the alloys which have been mixed with the gold. It is advisable you purchase your gold jewellery from trusted jewellers only or known brands. 

Colour

The colour of gold can vastly differ per piece – you can opt for white gold pieces which contain almost a silvery appearance or traditional yellow gold, or anything in between. There is also rose gold which contains pinkish hues – the colour of gold does not usually affect the value of it too much. C

Weight

Naturally, the more your gold weighs, the higher its price. To determine the weight of your gold jewellery, you can check its hallmark engravings or ask your jeweller to weigh the piece you are thinking of purchasing. 

Thinking or purchasing new gold jewellery? Have a browse through our collections, we offer a variation of styles and all different gold pieces – such as necklaces, rings and earrings. Do not hesitate to get in touch today, or pop into our Hatton Garden store.