How Gold Jewellery Is Made: 6 Steps

How jewellery is made from gold is one of the most asked questions we get on a daily and weekly basis. We’ve tried to highlight 2 things in this blog: why we wear gold, and how we go about creating it. Hopefully, these most important steps in this process can help you understand a little more about how gold jewellery is created.

Why Gold Jewellery?

Here are some of the reasons jewellery made with gold is so popular:

1. Durability: Gold is a very durable metal and does not tarnish or corrode easily. This makes it an ideal choice for jewellery that is meant to last for many years.
2. Beauty: Gold has a warm, rich colour and a natural luster that makes it very visually appealing. It can also be alloyed with other metals to create different colours, such as white gold and rose gold.
3. Versatility: Gold can be easily shaped and formed into a wide variety of jewellery designs. It can be used in both traditional and modern jewellery styles, and it can be set with a wide range of precious and semi-precious stones.
4. Value: Gold has been considered a valuable metal for centuries and is still considered a symbol of wealth and status today. It holds its value well and is a good investment option.
5. Allergy friendly: Gold is a hypoallergenic metal, which means it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction on the skin. It is a great option for those who are allergic to other metals, such as nickel.
6. Cultural Significance: Gold jewellery has been used for centuries to mark important life events and milestones, such as engagements, weddings, and births. It holds a special meaning and significance for many cultures around the world.

All these factors make gold a popular choice for jewellery and it remains one of the most traditional and preferred metals for jewellery making.

How to Create Gold Jewellery

1. Mining and Refining: Gold jewellery is created through a process that has been used for centuries. The process begins with mining for gold, which can be done using various methods such as open-pit mining, underground mining, and placer mining. Once the gold is mined, it is then refined to remove impurities and make it suitable for jewelry making.
2. Design: The next step in the process is the design and creation of the jewelry. This can be done by hand or with the use of computer-aided design (CAD) technology. The designer will create a detailed drawing or 3D model of the piece, which will be used to create a wax model.
3. Casting: The wax model is then used to create a mold, which is used to cast the final piece in gold.
4. Cleaning & Polishing: Once the piece is cast, it is then cleaned and polished to remove any remaining impurities and to give it a smooth finish. The gold is then alloyed with other metals to create different karats of gold such as 10k, 14k, 18k, and 24k. The higher the karat, the more pure the gold is.
5. Stone Setting (if applicable): After the piece is cleaned, polished and alloyed, the stones are set in place. This is done by cutting and polishing the stones to the correct shape and size, and then setting them into the gold using various techniques such as prong setting, bezel setting, and pave setting.
6. Quality Control: Finally, the piece is inspected for quality and then packaged for sale. This final step is important as it ensures that the piece meets the standards for quality and durability, and that it will be a cherished piece for many years to come.

Gold Purity: What is 24k gold?

24k gold is 100% pure gold. The difference between 10k, 14k, and 18k gold lies in their gold content or purity. 10k gold is made up of 41.7% gold and 58.3% other metals, such as copper, zinc, and silver. 18k gold is made up of 75% gold and 25% alloys. Hint; take the karat value and divide it by 24 to know how much gold is in a given piece of jewellery. In summary, 10 karat gold is the least pure and most durable, while 18 karat gold is the most pure and least durable. 14 karat gold is a good balance between purity and durability.

In conclusion, the process of creating gold jewellery is a multi-step process that involves mining, refining, designing, casting, cleaning, polishing, alloying, setting stones and inspection. Each step is crucial to the overall quality of the final piece and requires the skills of experienced craftsmen. The end result is a beautiful, long-lasting piece of jewelry that will be cherished for years to come. To check out some of our gold collections, click here.