Granulation

Abstract

The use of gold in its purest form—24 karat—is rare, even in those Eastern cultures whose jewelry is of a greater purity than is typical of the West. But the dilution that has taken place in the gold standard used for jewelry in the United States is considerable. We stand alone in the world in our acceptance of 14 karat as the norm for gold jewelry. For most of Europe, the standard is 18k gold. Not only is jewelry made of this more precious alloy more truly gold, it has a richness of color the American consumer rarely experiences. As a result, what the commercial jewelry marketplace has taught us to call “gold” is a pale, insipid version of gold’s alluring warmth and vital color.