Here are some questions which we are frequently asked about gold jewelry. We hope the answers will make you a more educated consumer, our favorite kind of customer.

1. How can I know that the gold jewelry I'm buying is "real?"
When buying gold jewelry, look for marks which identify it as genuine, marks such as 18k, 14k, 10k, etc. Also look for a manufacturer's mark, a symbol which should be stamped somewhere on the piece.

2. What does the "k," karat mark mean?
The karat mark refers to the purity level of the gold. In its purest state, gold is 24 karat, not much use in jewelry manufacturing because it is too soft to be practical. In order to make the gold strong enough to be usable, it must be mixed with other metal alloys. Twenty-four karat gold is 100% pure, or 24 parts of gold, while 18 karat gold is 18 parts gold to six parts of another metal. And so on . . .

3. Can I buy gold that is less than 10k?
In the United States nothing less than 10 karat gold may be legally marketed and sold. Anything less than 10 karat, cannot be considered "real."

4. What is jewelry that is marked golf-filled or gold-plated?
These refer to jewelry that is processed with a layer of gold that is mechanically bonded to a base metal.

When you buy gold jewelry, you are making an investment. Make certain to make your purchase in a reputable shop, like Kingston Fine Jewelry, where we stand behind the authenticity of what we sell.