All the gold found on Earth originates from the forgotten debris of dead stars.
When Earth formed, heavy elements such as iron and gold sank toward the planet’s core. Had no other event occurred, there would be no gold in the Earth’s crust. But about four billion years ago, Earth was battered by asteroid impacts from dead suns.

Gold is typically formed through the fusion of neutrons in the supernovae of massive stars that explode at the end of their lives. After copper, it was the second metal to be discovered and worked by early humans. The oldest examples of goldsmithing date back approximately 5,500 years.

The largest gold deposits are located in Canada, South Africa, the USA, Australia, Russia, Chile, China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Papua New Guinea.

Throughout history, gold has always been a symbol of status and wealth. It has been used for jewelry, coins, medals, religious objects, tableware, and thread, and later for electronics, space exploration, medicine, and dentistry. There is only a limited amount of gold on Earth, and it is difficult to mine.

Gold is extracted through prospecting, mining, shoveling, the use of explosives, and grinding. Gold is often found together with quartz in a vein that has filled a fissure in the surrounding rock.

What is a carat?

Karat is a term used to describe the purity of gold and the weight of diamonds.
The unit of measurement “carat” used for diamonds must not be confused with the “carat” used for gold, which indicates purity—specifically, the proportion of pure gold—rather than weight. The scale for gold ranges from 1 to 24; thus, an 18-karat piece of gold jewelry contains 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts alloying metal.

Pure gold is 24 karats and too soft for fine jewelry making. A piece of jewelry must be at least 14 karats to qualify as gold.

24 Karat – 24/24 parts gold – 100% gold
18 Karat – 18/24 parts gold – 75% gold
14 Karat – 14/24 parts gold – 58% gold

For diamonds, weight is traditionally measured in carats. A 1-carat diamond weighs 0.2 grams. A 5-carat diamond weighs 1 gram.

The average size of a diamond, depending on its weight:

0.05 Carat Diamond – ø 2.5 mm
0.50 Carat Diamond – ø 5.2 mm
1.00 Carat Diamond – ø 6.5 mm

What does karat mean?

The word “carat” is derived from the Greek *keration*, meaning “carob seed.” The seeds of the carob tree’s fruit are shaped like a small horn—or *kerat*—and are remarkably uniform in both shape and weight. A single seed weighs an average of 0.2 grams and was used as a unit of weight in ancient Greece.

Although modern research has cast doubt on—and ultimately refuted—the notion of uniform seed weight, the term “carat” has persisted as a unit of measurement for gold and gemstones.

How much gold is in our jewelry?

The range extends from 14 karats to 18 karats. Higher-karat alloys are not used—particularly for high-quality piercing jewelry—because gold is a relatively soft precious metal, and an excessively high gold content would negatively affect durability and biocompatibility.

The first and most important priority for piercing jewelry is always its suitability for safe wear in the body. Find out more here. (Link to blog post “What makes piercing jewelry so special?”)

Gold-colored

To give gold sufficient hardness and durability, it must be mixed with other metals to form an alloy. These additives also significantly influence the color of the gold. For this reason, specific substances are deliberately chosen to produce particular color nuances in the resulting gold alloy.

Yellow gold

Pure gold has a brilliant yellow color, and to maintain this hue, it is mixed with copper, silver, and zinc to form an alloy. The higher the gold content—or the karat—the yellower the gold alloy.

Yellow gold undoubtedly possesses a classic charm. It is the traditional color for fine jewelry and therefore always signifies luxury. When set with diamonds, yellow gold offers a beautiful contrast to their white sparkle, making them stand out even more.

White gold

To neutralize the copper and gold hues, white gold is primarily mixed with light-colored metals. Typically, the alloy consists of gold, copper, silver, zinc, and platinum. In addition to alloying, white gold jewelry is often plated with the precious metal rhodium. This is because the white gold alloy retains a slight yellow tint; it is not completely silvery-white. Rhodium belongs to the same family of metals as platinum and has a pure, shimmering white color. It gives white gold jewelry a lustrous finish and protects the softer underlying alloy from scratches and dents.

Elegant, modern, and radiant. White gold is timeless, and to the untrained eye, it looks identical to platinum—the most durable and expensive of all precious metals. It has gained in popularity over recent decades and has become the most sought-after gold color on the market.

Rose gold

To accentuate the exciting, warm color tone, a higher proportion of copper is used in this gold alloy; light metals such as silver or platinum are notably absent. The higher the copper content, the redder the alloy—ranging from soft rose to vibrant pink.

Rose gold is the epitome of romance and Old World glamour. This makes it an obvious choice for vintage-inspired designs. It was created by the famous Russian jeweler Carl Fabergé. In his renowned Fabergé eggs, crafted in the 19th century, rose gold was simply known as “Russian gold.” Rose gold was popular in Europe and the United States during the Art Deco era of the 1920s and came back into fashion in the 2000s.

The personal choice

When choosing the perfect piece of jewelry for yourself or a loved one, there are a number of factors that play a role in the decision.

1 – First, you should consider the general style of the piece of jewelry and decide between classic yellow gold, modern white gold, or nostalgic rose gold.

2 – If you want to buy a piece of jewelry as a gift, consider what type of gold the person usually wears. If they generally wear white gold, the choice should be easy. People who wear yellow gold often have a skin tone that complements rose gold beautifully.

3 – Gold falls into a higher price range, yet you can still find little treasures with us that fit your budget. Whether it’s a carefully curated ear look featuring delicate chains, precious gemstones and striking designs, or charming minimalist classics.

The best gold shade for your skin tone

To determine the best gold color for your skin tone, you should consider your skin’s undertone—warm, cool, or neutral. Warm skin tones (yellow or golden undertones) often look best in yellow gold, while cool skin tones (pink or blue undertones) pair beautifully with white gold. Neutral skin tones have free rein when it comes to matching gold to their skin.

Of course, the choice is entirely up to your personal taste, and you shouldn’t feel compelled to match your dream jewelry to your skin tone. Color-blocking, mixing colors, and an eclectic vibe can often look just as beautiful! That said, we’re happy to offer a few tips to help you achieve the look of your dreams.

Here’s how to tell if you have a cool or warm skin tone.

Look at the veins on your wrist to see whether you have a cool or warm undertone. Your veins will look greenish if you have warm skin, or bluish-purple if you have cool skin. If you see a mix of green and blue tones, or if your veins are not clearly visible at all, you likely have neutral skin. Being pale does not necessarily mean you have cool undertones, and having dark skin does not necessarily mean you have warm undertones.

If you are someone who burns easily in the sun, you likely have cool-toned skin. If you tan quickly without burning, you probably have warm-toned skin—and if you tend to burn a little before tanning, you likely have a neutral skin tone.

Warm skin tones

Yellow gold is an excellent choice for people with warm skin tones. The golden hues of yellow gold complement the golden undertones of warm skin. Most warm skin types also look great in rose gold, which offers a similar effect while adding a touch of pink that can brighten a yellowish complexion.

Colorless diamonds complement all skin tones and can create a beautiful contrast with the warm tones of yellow and rose gold. Colored gemstones that suit warm skin tones include rubies, emeralds, citrine, and yellow sapphires.

Cool skin tones

Cool skin looks best with light-colored and silver metals, such as platinum and white gold. The icy tone of these metals complements the blue undertones of your skin and can have a beautiful brightening effect on your complexion.

Colorless diamonds look fantastic on cool skin tones and pair beautifully with white gold, which makes the diamonds appear bright and icy. If you prefer colored gemstones, you should consider sapphires, amethysts, and aquamarines.

Keep in mind that cool-toned skin does not necessarily mean pale skin. Pale individuals with warm, yellowish undertones can look great in rose gold and yellow gold. Some people with dark complexions have cool blue undertones and find that platinum and white gold look particularly beautiful against their skin.

Neutral skin tones

If you have green-blue veins on your wrists, you likely have neutral skin, which means you can wear any metal color. Everything from the silvery hue of white gold to the warm tones of rose gold and yellow gold should look good on you!

A wide range of gemstones is suitable for people with neutral skin tones, as these stones complement both warm and cool undertones. Versatile options include diamonds, amethysts, citrines, and opals. Other suitable gemstones include rose quartz, morganite, sapphire, and even stones such as peridot and tanzanite.