All Things Solid Gold

When it comes to us, all that glitters is gold.

What is Solid Gold?

Solid gold may be the main character, but she’s not the whole story. Solid gold, contrary to its name, isn’t all about gold - it's about mixing in alloys to enhance the metal’s properties and even add some colour.

The addition of alloys to pure gold is essential when producing fine jewellery as they make solid gold malleable, durable, and wearable. That’s why you won’t find 24ct gold jewellery as often as 22ct, 18ct, 14ct, and 9ct, as pure gold is extremely soft and pliable, making it difficult to work with, and even harder to wear on a daily basis. Commonly used alloys in solid gold include silver, copper, and sometimes palladium.

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold is the most popular of all gold colourings (and our personal favourite). Known for its bright golden yellow colour, yellow gold is the closest in appearance to pure, unalloyed gold.

Rose Gold

Rose gold has copper, alongside other alloys and pure gold, leaving us with its pinky, rosy hue.

White Gold

White gold consists of gold, as well as other alloys, and rhodium plating to finish for its shiny bright appearance. Rhodium naturally wears off over time due to skin acidity and lifestyle, but jewellers can always re-plate your white gold pieces and it only needs to be done every few years.

At BY BABY we offer complimentary rhodium re-plating for all our white gold pieces.

What does Gold Carat mean?

The amount of pure gold in a piece of jewellery is measured by its ‘caratage’ or carat. Don’t mistake it for a stone’s carat weight (check out our Diamond 101 blog for that). Here’s the rundown.

• 9ct solid gold consists of 37.5% pure gold
• 14ct solid gold consists of 58.5% pure gold
• 18ct solid gold consists of 75% pure gold
• 24ct gold is 100% pure gold (no alloys added)

So, the higher the carat, the more pure gold in your jewellery, and if it’s yellow gold, the brighter and more yellow the gold will appear. The remaining percentage, for example, in 18ct gold is 25% alloys and 75% pure gold.

Why Piercing with Gold Jewellery is Recommended

Solid gold jewellery is hypoallergenic, meaning it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. The higher the carat weight of your jewellery, and simultaneously the higher quantity of pure gold in your jewellery, will make your skin less reactive to any added alloys.

I’m sure you’ve heard that gold has healing qualities, and it’s true. Gold is known to be anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic, and is even used in skincare, food, and medicine. For fresh piercings, a higher-carat gold earring or piece of jewellery can help expedite its healing process.

BY BABY’s solid gold and diamond studs are perfect for piercing. Both the butterfly back earrings (for lobe piercings) and 8mm flat back studs (for cartilage piercings) are perfect for brand new piercings, allowing them to heal quicker.

If you’re a Brisbane local, we recommend consulting and booking an appointment with our friends over at The Piercing Shop. They book out quick, so call in advance to make a booking and let them know you have a BY BABY stud you’re bringing along with you!

How Does Solid Gold Wear Over Time?

Our solid gold jewellery is designed to be lived in. Worn often. Solid gold jewellery, in comparison to plated, vermeil or filled gold jewellery, wears extremely well and will maintain its gold shine with love and care.

Solid gold can naturally oxidise over time, which darkens the colour of the gold. The oxidisation of gold comes off easily with a jewellery polishing cloth or in a professional jewellery polishing. Yet, the higher the caratage of a piece of solid gold jewellery leaves less chance for the gold to oxidise, but only pure gold is 100% safe from oxidising.

We offer complimentary cleaning and polishing of your BY BABY pieces, give us a visit.

Does Solid Gold Tarnish or Rust?

No, solid gold jewellery will not tarnish or rust. However, solid gold can oxidise. This occurs naturally against the chemicals in our skin and when jewellery is left without wear for a long period of time. For example, if you leave a solid gold necklace in its jewellery box without wear for a few months, it may appear a bronze colour, this is not rust, but in fact is oxidisation.

A common misconception is that when gold changes in colour, it means the piece of jewellery is not real, this simply is not true. True solid gold jewellery can always be polished back to its shiny golden finish.

Can Solid Gold be Worn in the Shower or While Swimming?

You can 100% wear your solid gold jewellery in the shower and while swimming. Your solid gold jewellery will not rust, tarnish or fade if you regularly wear it in the shower or in the ocean. However, highly chlorinated water, pools and spas, will oxidise gold over time, yet this oxidisation can be removed. All you need to do is give it a regular clean and polish!

But, if you are planning a beach day, make sure your jewellery is tight and secure. We don’t want your huggies sitting at the bottom of the ocean!

What is Vermeil, Gold-plated and Gold-filled jewellery?

Vermeil, gold-plated, and gold-filled are processes that differ slightly, but all involve coating sterling silver or other lower-cost metals with gold. Jewellery with gold vermeil, plating or filling, will eventually tarnish, fade and wear away, regardless of the thickness of its gold coating. That’s why most fine jewellers prefer working with solid gold; for its longevity, quality, and wearability.

At BY BABY, our jewellery is 100% solid gold! Our jewellery is designed to be lived in, worn often, and loved dearly, which is why we offer complimentary cleaning, polishing and rhodium plating for all of our pieces.

All that glitters is gold, when it comes to us. Shop our collection of solid gold jewellery.