What is Belais?
Belais Manufacturing Co., founded by David Belais (1863 – June 5, 1933), was among the early manufacturers of white gold jewelry in the United States. During the late 19th and early 20th century, they experimented with various alloys for white gold as a substitute for platinum in jewelry.
Who patented white gold?
Founder David Belais
Founder David Belais applied for a patent in 1918 and it was granted in 1920. The name Belais became synonymous with white gold. As testament to their success many prominent jewelers of the time listed in their advertisements the enticement that they sold “18k Belais.” Their slogan was “Belais Made Means Well Made”.
When did white gold start?
White gold first became commercially available in about 1912 and popular in 1920. Platinum was still the preferred precious metal for jewelry settings. However, many people could not afford authentic platinum jewelry. White gold was introduced as an affordable alternative to platinum.
Why was white gold made?
Due to the deficiency of platinum, jewelers decided to promote the mixture of nickel, palladium or zinc to pure gold to bleach its yellow hue and turn it into white gold.
Is white gold really gold?
White gold is usually an alloy containing about 75% gold and about 25% nickel and zinc. If stamped 18 karat, it would be 75% pure gold.
What is 18k white gold?
18k white gold contains 75 percent white gold and 25 percent alloyed metals, and 14k white gold contains 58 percent gold and 42 percent alloys. The proportion causes a slight difference in appearance and price.
Is Rose gold real gold?
Rose gold is an alloy made from a combination of pure gold and copper. The blend of the two metals changes the color of the final product and its karat. For example, the most common alloy of rose gold is 75 percent pure gold to 25 percent copper, which makes 18k rose gold.
What is better white gold or platinum?
When comparing both options, white gold is cheaper than platinum. This is because 18ct gold rings have 75% purity, whilst platinum has 95%. Alongside, this platinum is stronger than white gold, despite being a softer metal.
What is 18k gold?
18k gold is one of the less commonly used types of gold since it costs more than 14k gold but doesn’t offer many additional benefits. It’s composed of 75% gold and 25% alloy. Appearance: 18k gold is slightly brighter than 14k gold. When you think of gold, the 18k hue is probably what you imagine.
Is rose gold real gold?
How do you tell if 18k gold is real?
The most straightforward way to check the karat of your gold jewelry is to look at its surface and see if there are any markings. Gold jewelry usually has its karat number stamped on it. If your jewelry is 18 karats, it should have a marking that reads “18K”, “18KT” or something similar.
Which is better 14kt or 18KT gold?
14k gold is more affordable than 18k since it contains less pure gold in the metal, and because it contains a higher percentage of alloyed metals it provides more durability and resistance to wear and tear. 14k gold can be an excellent choice for those with more active lifestyles.
