Precious Metals
Education Center
Learn about gold, silver, platinum, palladium, jewelry hallmarks, purity grades, metal durability, value, and how to properly care for precious metals.
The History of Precious Metals
Gold artifacts appear in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt — over 6,000 years of unbroken use in jewelry.
Ancient Egyptians consider gold the flesh of the gods — reserved for pharaohs and burial regalia.
Silver is more valuable than gold in early Egypt — rarer than gold in their region.
European chemists isolate platinum — the 'little silver' from Spanish South American mines.
Platinum becomes the signature metal of the Edwardian era — defining luxury engagement rings.
Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium remain the foundation of fine jewelry worldwide.
Understanding Gold Purity
The five gold purities used in modern jewelry — and what each is best for.
What Do Gold & Silver Stamps Mean?
Every precious metal carries a hallmark — here's how to read them.
| Stamp | Equivalent | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% pure gold |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% pure gold |
| 750 | 18K | 75.0% pure gold |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% pure gold |
| 417 | 10K | 41.7% pure gold |
| 925 | Sterling Silver | 92.5% pure silver |
| 950 | Platinum | 95.0% pure platinum |
| PD950 | Palladium | 95.0% pure palladium |
Yellow vs White vs Rose Gold
Three colors, three alloys — same gold content, dramatically different looks.
Yellow Gold
- Traditional, timeless appearance
- Low maintenance — no replating
- Holds color forever
- Less modern than white metals
Care:Polish occasionally to restore luster.
White Gold
- Modern bright-white finish
- Excellent for diamonds
- Strong and durable
- Requires rhodium re-plating every 1–3 years
- May trigger nickel allergies
Care:Replate when the warm undertone returns.
Rose Gold
- Warm romantic pink tone
- Extremely popular and on-trend
- Stronger than yellow gold
- Copper can cause sensitivity in rare cases
Care:Same as yellow gold — polish to restore shine.
Why Does White Gold Turn Yellow?
It's not damage — and the fix is simple.
Step 1: The Truth
White gold is naturally a pale champagne color. The alloy itself is yellowish — even though it's mixed with white metals like palladium.
Step 2: The Plating
To create the bright-white finish you see in stores, jewelers plate white gold with rhodium — a brilliant, ultra-white precious metal.
Step 3: The Wear
Rhodium plating naturally wears off after 1–3 years of daily wear. The warm undertone underneath becomes visible — this is normal.
Platinum vs Gold
Two metals at the top of the luxury market — compared head-to-head.
| Attribute | Platinum | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Densest, displaces rather than wears away | Wears down over time (especially higher karats) |
| Weight | Heavy — ~60% denser than 14K gold | Lighter and more comfortable |
| Cost | 2–3x more expensive per gram | More affordable across all karats |
| Maintenance | Develops patina — polishes to high shine | Yellow gold low-maintenance; white needs rhodium |
| Resale Value | Strong — limited global supply | Excellent — universal precious metal market |
| Allergies | Hypoallergenic | Higher-karat gold rarely causes reactions |
Sterling Silver Education
What 925 means — and how silver differs from plated lookalikes.
| Type | Purity | Durability | Tarnish | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Silver (999) | 99.9% | Very soft | Resists tarnish | High | Too soft for most jewelry — used in bullion and decorative pieces. |
| Sterling Silver (925) | 92.5% silver + 7.5% copper | Good | Tarnishes over time | Good | Industry standard for silver jewelry — strong and beautiful. |
| Silver-Plated | Base metal + thin silver layer | Low | Plating wears off | Minimal | Affordable but the silver layer wears away in months to years. |
Why Does Silver Turn Black?
It's tarnish, not damage — and it polishes off easily.
What Causes Tarnish
- • Sulfur compounds in air and pollution
- • Humidity and moisture
- • Lotions, perfumes, and hairspray
- • Sweat and skin oils
- • Household cleaners and bleach
- • Rubber, latex, and certain woods
How To Prevent & Remove It
- • Store in anti-tarnish pouches with silica gel
- • Use a silver polishing cloth weekly
- • Wipe with microfiber after every wear
- • Avoid wearing silver in pools, showers, or spas
- • Professional ultrasonic cleaning restores heavy tarnish
- • Apply lotions and perfumes BEFORE putting on silver
Gold Filled vs Vermeil vs Plated vs Solid
What's actually inside your 'gold' jewelry.
| Type | Gold Content | Durability | Value | Longevity | Repair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Gold | 100% gold alloy throughout | Excellent | High | Generations | Fully repairable, resizable |
| Gold Filled | Min 5% gold bonded to brass | Very Good | Moderate | 10–30 years | Limited repairs possible |
| Gold Vermeil | Heavy gold plating over sterling silver (2.5+ microns) | Good | Moderate | 5–20 years | Limited — silver core can be repaired |
| Gold Plated | Thin gold layer over base metal (<2.5 microns) | Low | Low | 6 months – 2 years | Not repairable — replate or replace |
Why Does Gold Turn Skin Green or Black?
The honest explanation — and what it actually means about your jewelry.
Common Causes
- • Body chemistry (everyone reacts differently)
- • Sweat and acidic skin pH
- • Lotions, sunscreens, and perfumes
- • Hand sanitizer and antibacterial soaps
- • Medications altering body chemistry
- • Chlorine, salt water, and chemicals
- • Humid weather and high humidity
Important Note
Green or black skin marks do NOT automatically mean your jewelry is fake. Even genuine 14K and 18K gold contains copper, which reacts with body chemistry — especially in humid weather or after applying lotion.
If you're unsure about your jewelry, bring it to HA Jewelers for free professional testing — we'll verify the metal in seconds.
Can Precious Metals Rust?
Rust, tarnish, oxidation — different things that get confused.
Gold
Pure gold is chemically inert. Lower karats may show minor surface discoloration from alloy metals.
Silver
Tarnish is a sulfur reaction on the surface. Polishes off completely without damage.
Platinum
Completely resistant — develops a soft patina from micro-scratches that polishes to a brilliant shine.
Palladium
Naturally white, hypoallergenic, and corrosion-resistant — similar to platinum at lower weight.
Understanding Palladium
Platinum's lighter, more affordable cousin.
History & Background
Discovered in 1803 and named after the asteroid Pallas, palladium joined the platinum metals group as a jewelry material in the early 1900s. It became especially popular during WWII when platinum was reserved for military use.
Key Benefits
- • Naturally white — never needs plating
- • 40% lighter than platinum
- • Hypoallergenic — safe for sensitive skin
- • Tarnish and corrosion resistant
- • Strong and durable for daily wear
- • More affordable than platinum
Understanding Rhodium
The brilliant white metal behind every shiny white-gold piece.
What It Is
Rhodium is a rare precious metal from the platinum family — silvery-white, hard, and 10–25x more expensive than gold per ounce.
Why It's Used
Rhodium is plated over white gold to give it the bright-white finish customers expect, and to protect the alloy beneath.
Benefits
Brilliant white shine, scratch protection, hypoallergenic barrier over nickel alloys, and enhanced sparkle for diamonds.
Lifespan
Plating lasts 1–3 years with daily wear. Heavily worn pieces (wedding bands) may need replating every 12–18 months.
Common Jewelry Metal Problems
The issues we see daily — and how each is solved.
Why Is My Ring Bent?
Soft alloys (10K-22K), pressure from gripping, sleeping on it, or dropping. Bent rings can be reshaped — but stones must be checked afterward.
Why Is My Chain Breaking?
Worn solder joints, kinks, or chains too thin for daily wear. Hollow chains break far more easily than solid. Most chains can be repaired.
Why Is My Jewelry Losing Shine?
Lotions, sweat, and skin oils dull the surface. Ultrasonic cleaning and a quick polish restore the original luster.
Why Did My White Gold Turn Yellow?
The rhodium plating has worn off. The natural alloy underneath is slightly yellow. Rhodium re-plating restores the bright-white finish.
Why Is My Silver Turning Black?
Silver reacts with sulfur in air, sweat, and household products. Polish with a silver cloth and store in anti-tarnish pouches.
Why Is My Ring Scratching Easily?
Higher-karat gold (18K-24K) is softer than 10K-14K. Daily-wear rings show micro-scratches that polishing easily removes.
Why Did My Jewelry Change Color?
Worn plating, oxidation, body chemistry, or chemical exposure. We can test the metal, re-plate, or restore the original finish.
How To Test Precious Metals
Educational overview of the five common testing methods.
Hallmark Inspection
Look for stamps (999, 750, 585, 925, PT950). Worn stamps are common on older pieces — re-testing is needed.
Magnet Test
Real gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are NOT magnetic. Magnetism indicates a steel base. Negative test alone doesn't confirm precious metal.
Acid Test
A small scratch on a touchstone reacts to graded acids. Effective for karat verification but slightly damages the test area.
Electronic Test
Conductivity-based pens give a quick yes/no for gold and platinum. Surface-level only — won't catch heavy plating.
XRF Spectrometer
Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence reads exact metal composition in seconds. The professional industry standard.
Disclaimer: Home testing methods give educated guesses but cannot reliably confirm metal content. Only professional XRF or acid testing accurately determines karat and purity. Bring jewelry to HA Jewelers for free verification.
Jewelry Care Guide By Metal
The right care routine for each precious metal.
Gold Care
Silver Care
Platinum Care
Rose Gold Care
Metal Durability Ranking
The metals used in jewelry, ranked by daily-wear durability.
Platinum
95/100Densest and most durable — barely wears, only displaces under scratches.
Titanium
92/100Extremely hard and lightweight — but cannot be soldered or resized easily.
10K Gold
85/100Hardest gold alloy — more base metal makes it tougher than higher karats.
14K Gold
80/100U.S. daily-wear standard — best balance of strength and gold content.
Palladium
78/100Similar to platinum, lighter weight — naturally white and hypoallergenic.
18K Gold
70/100Luxury standard — softer but rich color and high gold purity.
Sterling Silver
50/100Soft and tarnishes — best for occasional wear with proper care.
Fine Silver (999)
30/100Very soft — primarily for bullion, not daily-wear jewelry.
Investment & Value Guide
What makes precious metals valuable — and how that affects your jewelry.
What Affects Gold Prices?
Global supply, central bank reserves, inflation, currency strength (especially the U.S. dollar), and geopolitical instability all drive gold prices.
Why Does Gold Fluctuate?
Gold trades 24/7 on global commodity markets. Daily prices respond to economic news, interest rates, and investor demand for safe-haven assets.
Platinum & Palladium Value
Both metals are rarer than gold, with strong industrial demand (catalytic converters). Palladium prices have spiked higher than platinum and gold at times.
Does Jewelry Have Scrap Value?
Yes — solid gold, silver, and platinum jewelry has scrap value based on weight and purity. Gemstones, design, and brand are separate from melt value.
How Is Gold Priced?
Spot gold is priced per troy ounce. Jewelry pricing includes the metal value + craftsmanship + design + brand premium. 14K is priced at 58.5% of spot.
Resale vs Replacement
Insurance replacement values are typically 2–3x scrap value because they include retail markup. Resale and trade-in values are closer to scrap or wholesale.
Frequently Asked Questions
HA Jewelers Precious Metal Services
Full-service testing, repair, and restoration — performed in-house.
Gold Testing
Professional XRF and acid testing to verify karat and purity of any gold piece.
Silver Testing
Confirm sterling vs plated and identify mystery silver-toned jewelry.
Ring Resizing
Precision resizing for gold, silver, and platinum rings — up or down sizes.
Chain Repair
Solder, weld, and restore broken gold and silver chains of every style.
Rhodium Plating
Restore the bright-white finish on white gold rings, pendants, and earrings.
Jewelry Cleaning
Ultrasonic and steam cleaning to restore brilliance to any precious-metal piece.
Jewelry Restoration
Full restoration of heirloom and vintage gold and silver jewelry.
Custom Jewelry
Custom-designed gold, platinum, and silver pieces — your vision crafted in-house.
Precious Metal Inspection
Comprehensive inspection — metal verification, prong check, and wear assessment.
Why Trust HA Jewelers
Macomb County's trusted destination for precious metal testing, repair, and restoration since 2013.
Not Sure What Your Jewelry Is Made Of?
Visit HA Jewelers for professional inspections, repairs, cleaning, testing, and expert guidance.
See today's gold, silver, platinum & palladium prices
Live Kitco spot prices, Kitco Gold Index (KGX), daily change, and education on how precious metal prices affect jewelry pricing.