The glitter of noble metals beckons us all, women and men alike.

Whether it is the warm shine of gold or the cold gleam of silver, it is impossible to resist.

Many of us have a favorite collection of fine jewelry. Want to know more about them, read on.

The history of the development and formation of gold as a valuable and desirable metal is full of drama and adventure. The oldest archaeological finds of gold are 42,000 years old. It is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible, the oldest of books. In Ancient Egypt, gold was a divine metal and common people were not even allowed to touch it. This shiny stuff that everyone has always been short of caused many conflicts, inspired mankind to explore new lands and was at the origin of the monetary system.

All this has remained in humanity's genetic memory, so gold has become associated with wealth, influence, and primacy.

What is the value of Gold

People have been using gold to make jewelry for centuries. It has all the attributes of precious metal:

• Longevity. Gold does not rust or tarnish, and jewelry found in the tombs of pharaohs looks the same after restoration as it did five centuries ago. Therefore, it can be handed down from generation to generation and will not lose its value. This is why gold jewelry has become a family heirloom and an investment for many people at all times.

• Rarity. There are several gold deposits in the world, and they are depleting. Most of them have already been discovered. The largest mines are in South Africa. The number of mines still left in the wild is severely limited and steadily declining.

• Beauty. Gold's attractive, sunny luster is aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. Its malleability allows you to create intricate patterns in jewelry and sculpt fine details. 

Jewelers use 18K, 14K, 10K and 9K gold to create their jewelry. If you want to know exactly how much gold they contain, see Table 1.

Jewelry prices fluctuate depending on such factors:

• The price per ounce of gold on the world exchange, which is not a constant value.

• The purity of gold by weight in carats. Some alloys are more expensive than pure gold because they make the jewelry more durable, and rare.

• The quality of workmanship and exquisite design. The jewelry price adds a unique, cutting-edge design or a well-known name.

The value of Sterling Silver jewelry

If the ring is hallmarked with a 925 hallmark, it indicates the highest quality of metal. Such rings are very nice to wear and look stunning, especially if covered with rhodium, which prevents abrasion and gives extra shine. The cost of silver jewelry depends on the market price of silver, the complexity of the design, and the skill of the jeweler.

But if you don't take care of your jewelry, even the most durable gold or silver jewelry can wear out over time, darken, and lose its former attractiveness and luster. If you want to know how to care for your jewelry, what not to do and what to do, here is an article with jewelry care tips.