Editing Gold (section)

=== Jewelry ===
[[File:MocheGoldNecklace.jpg|thumb|[[Moche (culture)|Moche]] gold necklace depicting feline heads. [[Larco Museum]] Collection, [[Lima, Peru]].]]
[[File:Boule de Genève, ca. 1890.jpeg|thumb|A 21.5k yellow gold pendant [[watch]] so-called "[[Boule de Genève]]" (Geneva ball), {{Circa|1890}}.]]
Because of the softness of pure (24k) gold, it is usually [[alloy]]ed with other metals for use in jewelry, altering its hardness and ductility, melting point, color and other properties. Alloys with lower [[fineness#Karat|karat rating]], typically 22k, 18k, 14k or 10k, contain higher percentages of copper, silver, palladium or other base metals in the alloy.<ref name="WorldGoldCouncil">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080619061619/http://www.utilisegold.com/jewellery_technology/colours/colour_alloys/ Jewellery Alloys]. World Gold Council</ref><!--Is there a better ref?--> Nickel is toxic, and its release from nickel white gold is controlled by legislation in Europe.<ref name="WorldGoldCouncil" /> Palladium-gold alloys are more expensive than those using nickel.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_hTAAAAMAAJ |title=Professional goldsmithing: a contemporary guide to traditional jewelry techniques |last=Revere |first=Alan |date=1 May 1991 |publisher=Van Nostrand Reinhold |isbn=978-0-442-23898-8}}</ref> High-karat white gold alloys are more resistant to corrosion than are either pure silver or [[sterling silver]]. The Japanese craft of [[Mokume-gane]] exploits the color contrasts between laminated colored gold alloys to produce decorative wood-grain effects.

By 2014, the gold jewelry industry was escalating despite a dip in gold prices. Demand in the first quarter of 2014 pushed turnover to $23.7 billion according to a [[World Gold Council]] report.

Gold [[solder]] is used for joining the components of gold jewelry by high-temperature hard soldering or [[brazing]]. If the work is to be of [[hallmark]]ing quality, the gold solder alloy must match the fineness of the work, and alloy formulas are manufactured to color-match yellow and white gold. Gold solder is usually made in at least three melting-point ranges referred to as Easy, Medium and Hard. By using the hard, high-melting point solder first, followed by solders with progressively lower melting points, goldsmiths can assemble complex items with several separate soldered joints. Gold can also be made into [[gold thread|thread]] and used in [[embroidery]].