Gold jewelry has been worn since ancient times, becoming a universal symbol of luxury and beauty. It has been used as adornment, coinage, and even armor for millennia. Gold’s rarity, durability, and beauty make it a prized metal that never goes out of style. It’s also a solid investment, and can easily be sold to jewelry & pawn shops in Orange County.

Historically, gold was almost exclusively yellow in color, but modern jewelers often mix the precious metal with alloys to create different shades. White gold is created by adding silver, while rose gold is made by increasing the amount of copper. Gold is also commonly used as a conductor of electricity, which makes it useful in electronic devices.

Choosing the Perfect Gold Jewelry: A Buyer’s Handbook

Gold jewelry has long been an expression of status, with those of the noble classes and the wealthy wearing only the finest pieces. This status was sometimes indicated by the gems incorporated into the design, with pearls symbolizing purity and red gems denoting sacrificial blood. Engravings and enamels expressing mythological images became popular as well.

In medieval Europe, jewelry reflected the heightened sense of hierarchy in society with nobles and royalty favoring gold and fine gems while lower-ranked people wore base metals. The Renaissance saw a return to a love of splendour and advances in cutting techniques enabled jewels to glitter with increased lustre. Many Renaissance jewels were engraved with images representing Christian relics such as the Instruments of the Passion (scourge, whip, sponge, and nails), while others featured cryptic or magical inscriptions believed to offer protection.