Why Gold Is Such A Good Investment

March 27, 2009

Gold has always been one of the preferred investments of people all over the world. The reason for that is because it is one of the safest forms of investment available. Not just today, but historically. Gold prices may fluctuate to some extent, but in the long term, gold always appreciates. To understand this better, [...]

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What Is A Karat?

March 23, 2009

Everyone has come across the term Karat, in relation to gold or gold alloys. And we all know the higher the number of karats, the purer the metal. But how exactly does the system work? First of all, we need to get the spelling correct. In the US and Canada the word is spelled karat [...]

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What Is A Hallmark?

March 19, 2009

In modern usage, a hallmark is a distinguishing characteristic or trait. For example we say “Honesty is the hallmark of a good judge.” But the origins of the term comes from the practice of making a mark on precious metal – gold, silver, platinum and palladium – to signify that it meets certain standards of [...]

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What Does The “Sterling” In Sterling Silver Mean?

March 16, 2009

The term “sterling silver” refers to an alloy that is made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metals, most often copper. Sterling silver is the most common form of silver and is used in the manufacture of functional items like cutlery. Pure silver is far too soft and ductile to for many [...]

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Understanding The Gold Standard

March 12, 2009

The term gold standard refers to the practice of valuing a nation’s money against gold. In other words, if a country is willing to allow its money to be exchanged for the equivalent value of gold, it is on the gold standard. Most nations, including the USA adopted the gold standard as a way of [...]

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Understanding Sterling Silver

March 2, 2009

Many people are under the mistaken impression that sterling silver is pure silver. That is incorrect. Pure silver is metal that is 99.9% pure. Sterling silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% silver. The balance 7.5% is made up of other metals, the most common of which is copper. Pure silver, also referred to [...]

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