A.1_ Q & A
Fineness is based on parts per thousand. A metal that rates _______ is described as fine, or pure. This means it has virtually no impurities, and it's not mixed with another metal.
1,000
What is the most common gold alloy in the U.S?
14K
Since when has Palladium been used in jewelry?
1930
Gold makes up only about __ parts per billion of the earth's crust.
4
Give the percentage and parts per thousandth of 10K gold?
41.7% pure Parts per Thousandth: 417
Platinum is less rare, at about ___ parts per billion of the earth's crust
5
Give the percentage and parts per thousandth of 14K gold?
58.3% pure Parts per Thousandth: 583What
Silver is the least rare precious metal, at about ____ parts per billion.
75
Tungsten carbide is about 15 times denser than water. That makes it about percent as dense as gold and platinum, and 50 percent denser than silver.
75%
Give the percentage and parts per thousandth of 18K gold?
75% pure Parts per Thousandth: 750
If a precious metal is 75 percent pure, its fineness is ____. A precious metal that's stamped "_____" is very nearly pure.
750; 950
Polished pure silver shines more brightly than any other metal on earth. More than __% of the light that strikes it is reflected back to the observer's eye.
90%
Give the percentage and parts per thousandth of 22K gold?
91.6% pure Parts per Thousandth: 916
Give the percentage and parts per thousandth of 24K gold?
99.99% pure Parts per Thousandth: 999
Define a Feature.
A characteristic or part of a piece of jewelry.
What is the benefit of hardness as it relates to diamonds?
A diamond's hardness related benefit is durability, which allows diamonds to retain their beauty and value over time.
What is the Fineness of a precious metal?
A measure of the purity of a precious metal.
Stainless steel is an ________ ; Its composition varies with its purpose
Alloy
Name the 4 qualities that precious metals share that make them excellent quality jewelry metals
Allure Rarity Workability Durability
__________ is an electrochemical process that results in a protective or decorative coating on metal.
Anodizing
Why is pure titanium in the same price range as precious metal jewelry?
Because the pure titanium is difficult to extract and manufacturing is labor-intensive
Platinum is also less ________ than gold alloy, so platinum prongs are less likely to break. This combination of properties gives platinum durability and makes it an excellent jewelry metal.
Brittle
What are 3 benefits of alloying gold?
Broaden gold's appeal by making it easier for jewelers to work with Increasing its durability Bringing it within reach of more buyers
Pure silver is too soft to be practical for jewelry, so it's usually mixed with a small amount of______. _______ hardens silver without taking away its brilliant shine.
Copper
What are the 6 base metals?
Copper, Zinc, Tin, Nickel, Lead, Iron
A disadvantage that makes base metals unsuitable for jewelry use is that they don't resist _______ very well.
Corrosion
Like platinum, palladium is a lustrous silvery white metal. The two metals have similar properties, but palladium is not as _________ as platinum.
Dense
Gold lasts a long time and retains its value. Its substantial heft is related to its ________.
Density; Gold is more than 19 times as dense as water, meaning it would take more than 19 times the volume of water to weigh the same as one ounce of gold
________ metals can be drawn into wire or hammered into sheets
Ductile
Gold, silver, and platinum are also ________, meaning they're strong and long-wearing. They're resistant to _________, too. They also resist ______, meaning they stand up well when they're exposed to chemicals in the environment.
Durable, impact, corrosion
_______________ uses electricity to deposit a coating of precious metal, suspended in a solution, on another metal
Electroplating
Anodized niobium colors include navy blue, light blue, yellow, rose, bronze, pink, magenta, midnight blue, and various greens. The color is so vivid that many people mistake it for what?
Enamel
True or False: Gold is the only precious metal that is graded 100% pure.
False; Technically, there's no such thing as a fine precious metal. Every sample has at least some impurities or is deliberately blended with another metal or metals to form an alloy
Fill in the blank: To sell jewelry, you must know it's ____________ & be able to explain the importance of those features to your customers.
Features.
What is the rarest precious metal
Gold
Which precious metal is most malleable and ductile?
Gold
Platinum dents more easily than _________, but it's harder to dent than ________.
Gold ; Silver
What are the factors that make gold so appealing to customers?
Gold's appeal comes mostly from its color, luster, rarity, resistance to corrosion and is highly workable
What are the 3 precious metals?
Gold, Platinum & Silver
What does rose gold alloy consist of?
Gold, copper, silver (amount of copper increased)
What does green gold alloy consist of?
Gold, copper, silver (amount of silver increased)
What does 14K yellow gold alloy consist of?
Gold, copper, silver, zinc
What does 18K yellow gold alloy consist of?
Gold, copper, silver, zinc
What does white gold alloy consist of?
Gold, nickel or palladium, copper, zinc
Platinum and silver are both considered white metals by the trade, even though platinum's rich ________-_______ looks quite different from silver's gleaming ________
Grey-white White
Because of its _________, alloyed gold can take on a very high polish.
Hardness
What are the 3 features of allure?
Heft Color Luster
What is Hardness?
How well a metal resists scratching and denting.
Alloying titanium with small amounts of aluminum and vanadium _________ its durability and scratch resistance.
Increases
Most platinum rates 900 or 950 on the fineness scale. The other 50 or 100 parts in a platinum alloy are often another platinum group metal, usually ______ or _____, added to increase hardness. ________ and________ are other metals commonly used in platinum alloys.
Iridium or ruthenium Cobalt and copper
Because Niobium can't be soldered—how is it joined?
It is joined with rivets or tiny screws
What two pieces of information should you know about the jewelry you sell?
It's features and benefits.
Platinum is ________ ductile as gold and silver, but it's harder to scratch than either.
Less
_________ metals can be shaped or bent without breaking.
Malleable
Most jewelry metals are workable, which means jewelry makers can fashion them into almost any shape, and they retain that shape. A workable metal is both _______ and ________.
Malleable and Ductile
What is Tensile Strength?
Maximum stretching force a metal can withstand before breaking.
Titanium is difficult if not impossible to work, so jewelry pieces must be __________ cut, shaped, and assembled. .
Mechanically
Which alternative metal is much harder to scratch than any of the precious metals, much harder to dent than silver and platinum and it's also extremely resistant to corrosion.
Niobium
Polished platinum's luster can change over time, becoming softer and richer and achieving a subtle, enchanting glow called
Patina
Explain what 14K gold means
People use the term karat to state gold's fineness, which is based on parts out of 24. 14k gold means it consists of 14 parts pure gold and 10 alloys
What distinguishes precious metals from base metals?
Physical Properties
_________ depositing a metal coating electrically or applying it mechanically onto another metal.
Plating
What are the benefits of plating metal?
Plating a metal can protect its surface, enhance its appearance, or change its color.
If a metal has "metal memory," it tends to return toward its previous shape. Of the three precious metals, ________ has the least metal memory. Once ______ is bent, it tends to stay in position. This lack of metal memory means that _____ has superior holding power.
Platinum
Why is platinum is sometimes plated with rhodium?
Platinum is sometimes plated with rhodium to give it a whiter finish.
The beauty of a precious metal's luster depends largely on how well it's _______. All other things being equal, the better the polish, the higher the luster
Polished
Why are precious metals expensive?
Precious metals are expensive because they're rare and difficult to extract from the earth
What is the benefit of rare, jewelry- quality diamonds?
Rarity contributes to the diamonds financial value, offering the wearer prestige and status
Tungsten is especially popular for ________.
Rings
Silver is about half as dense as either gold or platinum. What silver lacks in heft, it makes up for in _______.
Shine
Niobium's workability is comparable to _______. In fact, any item a jewelry maker can create with gold, silver, or platinum, he or she can create with niobium.
Silver
Tarnish is a mild form of corrosion. Which precious metal is susceptible to corrosion?
Silver
This process used mercury, a highly toxic element to apply a thin surface coating of gold on silver. What is it known as?
Silver gilt AKA Vermeil
What are silver's principal assets for jewelry use?
Silver's bright, white shine and workability are its principal assets for jewelry use.
What is the benefit of light return diamonds?
Sparkle catches the eye and makes the diamonds aesthetically appealing.
What is the most popular silver alloy in jewelry?
Sterling Silver
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver defined as 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper.
Define luster
The appearance of a material's surface in reflected light.
What is most common silver alloy used for jewelry?
The most common silver alloy used for jewelry is sterling silver
Define a Benefit.
The value a feature holds for a customer.
Define Heft
The weight or heaviness of an object compared to its size and gives jewelry a sturdy and stable feel.
Which alternative metals listed below are hypoallergenic? Tungsten Titanium Niobium Stainless steel
Titanium & Niobium
True or False: Because it's extremely hard, tungsten carbide takes and retains a high polish. It's dark gray and highly resistant to scratching.
True
True or False: Niobium is popular with custom jewelry designers and manufacturers because it's easy to work with and to color.
True
True or False: Palladium---a metal with properties similar to platinum ----is also considered by many to be a precious metal
True
True or False: To be called "silver" in the US, an alloy must be at least 92.5 percent silver.
True
True or False: While tungsten carbide has good heft, it's not easy to work, so its jewelry uses are limited
True
True or false: Alloying gold increases its tensile strength and hardness while lowering it's melting point, which reduces its cost
True
True or false: Gold and silver have more metal memory than platinum.
True
True or false: Platinum takes a high polish, and it's highly resistant to tarnish.
True
Platinum is a little denser than gold and more than _______ as dense as silver. Its density gives it strength and a heavier feel than the other metals.
Twice
_______________ is used as necklace cord and in wide bracelets with jeweled clasps.
Woven silk
Tungsten is blended with ________ and a bonding metal, usually ______, to form tungsten carbide.
carbon ; cobalt
Modern vermeil is created by ______________, which uses electricity to activate the gilding process
electroplating
Jewelry makers sometimes use pure titanium or a titanium alloy. These materials are _______ but very strong. Titanium is only about _____ as dense as silver, so it doesn't have the heft of the precious metals.
light weight; half
Palladium can be alloyed with gold to produce white gold; the alloy is ______ expensive than conventional alloys using nickel and silver.
more
Sulfur in air reacts with silver to form ____________, a common ________ that can be removed with commercial polishes.
silver sulfide; Tarnish
Titanium is _________ in color and often polished or brushed.
silver-gray
Many modern jewelry designs are made of alternative metals such as:
tungsten, titanium, niobium, and stainless steel.
