GOLD JEWELRY:
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Gold controls the monetary trading system and is the number one ingredient in jewelry.
Ancient civilizations recognized the beauty of gold. The history of this precious metal shows that time and again people are driven to possess it. The artisans of ancient Egypt fashioned elegant golden objects for the royal rulers, the pharaohs.
These artifacts were encased in the tombs with the royals to accompany them on their journey to the afterlife. Apparently, even the gods of the underworld were influenced by gold. Gold was so prized in Europe that the Spanish sailors were willing to sail into the unknown in search of gold.
Some of the more ancient references to gold include "the sweat of the Sun" according to the Incas. Just like the Incas, many civilizations valued gold for its resemblance to the sun. To appease the Sun God, many cultures began sacrificial ceremonies with the victims wrapped in gold jewelry and adornments. Since only the wealthiest could afford to indulge in golden pleasures, royalty hired many of the best goldsmiths.
During the eras before the fall of the Roman Empire, anything that was considered a treasure was covered with gold jewelry, dressed up with gold, or carved out of gold. About the time of the Roman Empire's demise, gold mining was nearly tapped out and productions from raw gold were not to be found until almost 1000 years later.
When the Spanish traveler Cortez came upon the Americas in the 1500s and stole the Mexican's treasured gold, productions in gold regained speed. Again, when California's Gold Rush exposed veins of gold along the West Coast and later up in Yukon Territory, gold took on a new dimension. This rush permitted even the most common person to own a piece of gold. If you could find a big enough nugget, you could enter a lifestyle reserved for only the upper echelon. After the gold rush of the mid 1800s, over 90% of the world's population of gold has been produced.
Today, more veins of gold occasionally surface. Discoveries of gold in Australia and South Africa have increased the market for gold again. In Italy, for example, many goldsmiths are returning to "knit" gold into sculptures and other monuments.
The main use for the world's gold is to back currency. This is done by simply storing gold bars in secure locations. Otherwise, gold jewelry is a premier use for gold. The gold in jewelry is valued by karat, weight in grams, and the craftsmanship of the design. Yellow gold was once the standard gold used in jewelry; today many people prefer the newer white gold.
What is the difference between white and yellow gold? When mined, gold is yellow. Gold is usually mixed with an alloy of nickel or zinc. White gold is pure gold that is mixed with an alloy of nickel and palladium.
What is the enduring quality of gold over the centuries? As the ancient philosopher Pihder said over 2500 years ago, "Gold is the child of Zeus, neither moth or rust devour it."
Copyright 2005 Peter Doram. All rights reserved.
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Peter Doram is the owner and operator for
FT Gold
which is a leading resource for information on gold on the
the web. For further information visit his archive of
articles here: http://www.ftgold.com/
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