GOLD - The Allure of the Yellow Precious Metal
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A precious metal with a rich history
Gold, das kostbare Edelmetall, übt seit jeher eine unwiderstehliche Faszination auf die Menschheit aus. Es symbolisiert Reichtum, Schönheit und zeitlose Eleganz. Die Geschichte von Gold reicht bis in die Antike zurück, wo es von verschiedenen Kulturen für seine Seltenheit und Brillanz geschätzt wurde. Von den ägyptischen Pharaonen bis zu den prunkvollen königlichen Gewändern vergangener Epochen – Gold hat immer schon einen besonderen Platz in der Schmuckherstellung eingenommen. Heute noch wird es für seine Beständigkeit geschätzt, da es nicht korrodiert und seine Strahlkraft über die Zeit hinweg bewahrt. In Krisenzeiten ist es immer ein sicherer Hafen und Investoren schützen ihr Vermögen durch das Anlegen in Gold, da Gold zwar im Wert schwankt, doch nie seinen Wert verliert, wie es bei Wertpapieren, Aktien oder Immobilienblasen der Fall sein kann.
Timeless elegance
The timeless elegance of gold jewelry is undeniable. Its warm hue flatters the skin and adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit. Whether it’s a delicate bracelet, a sparkling necklace, or a stunning engagement or wedding ring, gold remains a versatile metal that can be effortlessly incorporated into a variety of designs.
An expression of personality
Gold jewelry is not just a sparkling accessory, but often an expression of one’s personality. From delicate pieces to bold and creative designs, the choice of gold jewelry reflects an individual’s uniqueness and style. It allows wearers to share their story and preferences in a subtle yet expressive way. Retina jewelry is particularly well-suited for this purpose—use it to express your uniqueness and distinctive personality in a subtle and understated way.A Legacy for the Future
A legacy for the future
Another fascinating aspect of gold jewelry is its role as an heirloom. Many families cherish gold jewelry as a precious legacy passed down from generation to generation. These pieces carry not only material value but also emotional connections and stories—they uniquely bridge the past, present, and future. Many of our customers view RetinaSchmuck as just such a heirloom. A precious accessory, a keepsake with incredible symbolic power that will attest to one’s existence for future generations and leave them in awe. Such a personal piece of gold jewelry is certainly among the last items to be melted down in times of financial hardship.
Sustainability and Responsibility
In today’s world, the sustainability of gold jewelry is becoming increasingly important. Many manufacturers are committed to environmentally friendly mining practices and fair working conditions to minimize negative impacts on people and the environment. When purchasing gold jewelry, it is advisable to look for certifications and information about its origin to ensure that the values embodied by gold are respected in every way. We ourselves were the first goldsmiths in Basel to begin working with ethically sourced/recycled gold, as the ethics behind gold jewelry that is worn for decades have always been important to us, and we take our responsibility in this regard seriously.
Gold and Karats
What is a karat? A karat is a unit used to define the purity of gold. It refers to the proportion of fine gold in an alloy. Pure gold, or fine gold, is known as 24-karat gold and contains at least 99.9% gold, also known as 999 gold.
18-karat gold (750) is our standard. 75% fine gold, 25% alloy metals. It combines elegance with practicality—strong enough for everyday wear, valuable enough to last a lifetime. We recommend it for wedding rings and engagement rings. It is the most commonly used gold in Switzerland. This alloy is optimized for stability, color, and comfort. It does not tarnish and is relatively scratch-resistant.
585 gold (14 karat) is more affordable because it contains only 58.5% fine gold. It’s the right choice for some budgets. However, with this alloy, there is no guarantee that it won’t tarnish.
We are always happy to recommend high-karat gold to discerning customers who are looking for something special and are willing to take extra care of their valuable jewelry: Ideally, wear 21-karat rings on your non-dominant hand to protect them from wear and tear.
Gold Alloys: Rose Gold / White Gold
The addition of varying amounts of copper creates rose gold, a beautiful, very warm and inviting shade that has been gaining increasing popularity among our customers in recent years. However, it does not suit every skin tone, which is why it is important to test this alloy on your own hand.
White Gold
When yellow gold is mixed with palladium, the palladium decolorizes the gold, resulting in a gray tone: gray gold. We primarily use white gold alloys containing 16% palladium—here, the yellow color is completely removed, resulting in an interesting anthracite shade that we frequently recommend to our customers even in its pure form. A very elegant, dark hue, in our opinion. However, in most cases, an additional electroplating process (rhodium plating) is applied, transforming gray gold into white gold.
Rhodium Plating on White Gold
White gold only becomes truly bright through rhodium plating. Rhodium is a very hard, bright precious metal from the platinum group that can be applied to precious metal surfaces through an electrochemical process known as electroplating. For technical reasons, however, a layer thickness of only about 1 micrometer can be achieved. Although this layer is relatively stable, it can wear off over time due to mechanical abrasion, particularly on rings. In this case, the rhodium plating can be easily repeated.
Responsibility and Hallmarking
- 999 24-karat gold
- 916 22-karat gold
- 900 21-karat gold
- 750 18-karat gold
- 585 14-karat gold
- Pt 950 95% platinum