Gold is one of the most precious metals on earth. It has been used to make art, coins, and of course, jewelry. Nowadays it’s so easy to sell your gold jewelry--but without proper research, there are many risks you may face. We’ll take a look at why gold is such a beloved metal and what you need to know before you sell.

History of Gold

Gold is a well-known symbol of wealth and power. The very first reference to gold was recorded back in 1900 BC. The oldest known map of a gold mine came hundreds of years later, in Ancient Egypt between 1320 and 1200 BC. The metal was abundant and was incredibly popular amongst the Egyptian pharaohs.

Gold remained popular through the years and was found across the world, including in China, Europe, and the Americas. Reports of gold ornaments in the Americas inspired many European explorers to set sail for “the new world” in search of these storied treasures.

The world’s love of gold has even bled into our fairy tales and fables. King Midas’ greed for the ore left him doomed. In the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, the protagonist Jack was chased out of a giant’s castle in the clouds after he was caught stealing a magical golden harp and a goose that lay golden eggs. The evil trickster Rumpelstiltskin spun hay into gold to help a girl become a princess to disastrous results.

Types of Gold

Gold comes in a variety of colors. These colors are caused by mixing true gold with other metals to create a uniquely beautiful amalgam.

Traditional yellow gold is the purest color, requires the least amount of maintenance, and is also hypo-allergenic. However, it is not made of pure gold. It is actually an alloy, or a mixture of different kinds of metals. To get that traditional yellow color, pure gold is mixed with zinc, silver, and copper.

Rose gold has become an incredibly trendy take on the traditional metal recently. It’s far more affordable and durable than other colors of gold as well. To create the rosy-pink hue pure gold is alloyed with silver and copper.

White gold is a very popular metal used in different types of jewelry for its beauty, durability, and affordability. There are two different ways to alloy it. The first way is by mixing gold with nickel, zinc, and palladium. The second is mixing gold with either platinum or palladium.

One of the more rarely seen gold alloys is electrum, or green gold. This is created with gold and silver, but sometimes copper is used in the alloy as well.

Selling Your Gold

The most important step in selling your gold is research. You’re going to want to find somewhere that is trustworthy, has the proper credentials, and cares about quality and their customers. At Ralph Mueller and Associates, our customers are our top priority. We are passionate about jewelry and are available to answer your questions. We purchase gold in Phoenix, Arizona and nationwide. Contact us to learn more.