GOLD
Ouro has been used for moedas, jewellery and decoration por milhares de anos. Gold is prized for its raridade, beleza, durabilidade e o unique qualities that enable the jeweller to craft it into almost any form desired. Para variar sua cor e aumentar sua dureza, o ouro quase sempre está ligado a outros metais. The purity of gold jewellery is expressed in karats, which is a measure of gold content or percentage. Gold jewellery is “hallmarked” to indicate the content of gold, ou seja: 10k, 14k, 18k, 19, or 24k, 24k ser ouro puro.
PLATINUM
Of all the precious metals, platina is the most rare and the most valuable. Denser than gold, it is inert and thus very resistant to corrosion. Platina é very strong, yet is soft and easy to carve. Platinum settings for gemstones last for years and years. Most platinum jewellery is alloyed with 5% de outros metais, giving it a standard hallmark of 950.
SILVER
Prata pura has an exceptionally brilhante, silver-white colour that readily tarnishes upon exposure to air. Too soft to be used in jewellery in its pure form, silver is alloyed, usually to 7.5% with other metals , giving it the characteristic hallmark of 925, ou “libra esterlina” prata. Less rare than gold or platinum, prata is an affordable and beautiful choice for jewellery. Most fine silver jewellery is plated with rhodium, a bright white metal, in order to make the silver jewellery more tarnish resistant.
RHODIUM AND PALLADIUM
Hard white metals from the platinum group of the elements, rhodium and palladium are used in jewellery making to make white gold whiter and to plate silver and white gold jewellery.