For thousands of years, men and women have adorned themselves with gold. As civilizations developed around the world, gold jewelry and objects came to symbolize wealth and beauty. The earliest examples of gold jewelry came from Asia and Egypt, followed by Europe, the Americas and Africa.

Gold in it's purest form lacks toxicity and is incredibly malleable, making it an ideal energy conductor. Gold is used in science, for medical applications and even for healing. Gold represents "Purity of Spirit". Gold is thought to be a "Master Healer". When gold is used in concert with various gemstones the healing powers of those stones are amplified. Gold has been used for healing for centuries.

In its natural state, gold does not oxidize like other metals such as silver or copper. It is easily shaped and drawn into wire or thin leaf, making it perfect for artisans to create with. In fact, it is possible to make 50 miles of thin wire from just one ounce of gold.

The purity of gold is measured in Karats, with 24K being pure gold. Since pure gold is a relatively soft metal, it is not ideal for jewelry. Therefore, most gold that is used in jewelry has other metals, such as silver, nickel, copper and iron that add strength and subtle color. For instance, a high content of silver will give gold a greenish hue, whereas copper gives gold a rose color. For white gold, a metal called palladium is added to give gold a silver hue.

18K gold is comprised of 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals, making it 75% gold. 18K gold has a rich, warm color and is often used in Indian jewelry. It pairs beautifully with gemstones such as ruby, emerald and sapphire. An 18K gold clasp and beads are the perfect accent for special pieces of jewelry.

14K gold is the most common gold alloy found in jewelry. 14K has 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals, making it 58.3% gold. Compared to 18K, 14K usually has a lighter, brighter color and it is stronger. 14K gold is ideal for findings such as clasps and earwires. Due to its high Karat content, people who experience nickel allergies can usually wear 14K gold with no adverse reactions.

Gold also comes in lower Karat contents, but in the United States, 10K gold is the lowest Karat alloy that is allowed to be labeled as "gold." Other countries around the world have different Karat requirements.

In addition to high Karat gold, Beadworks offers more reasonably priced gold options. Gold-filled jewelry has a layer of base metal which is fused with an outer layer of gold plating, usually 14K. This process is also referred to as "rolled gold" or "gold overlay." The gold layer on jewelry must comprise at least 20% of the total weight of a piece to be considered gold-filled. Depending on the type of piece and how often it is worn, gold-filled finishes typically last anywhere from 2 to 10 years.

An even more affordable gold option is gold electroplating. Gold plating, or "gilding" as it is sometimes called, was first developed in the 1800's. Compared to gold filled jewelry, the layer of gold on a plated item is much thinner. Plated metals are perfect for costume jewelry, as they have a durable finish for approximately 1 to 7 years.

If you love the look of high Karat gold, but find the price a bit out of your range, gold vermeil beads and findings are a beautiful option. Vermeil (pronounced vur-may) refers to high karat gold electroplating over silver.

Content Provided in Part by:

• U.S. Geological Survey - http://pubs.usgs.gov
• Guido Gregoretti, Jewelry Throughout the Ages, ©1969 American Heritage Press
• www.artisanplating.com
• www.jewelrysupplier.com/2_gold/gold_healing.htm