Gold basics

October 24, 2008 2:16 PM

Help my buy my first pair of gold earrings. What do I need to know?

I want to buy a pair of simple studs. What should I look for - price-wise, karat-wise, quality-wise, etc. I'm living in Egypt, in case that matters.

posted by anonymous78 to shopping (4 comments total)

Can you wait a year or so. The price of gold is way up these days and probably will be until the economy turns around. Don't know the market in Egypt though.
posted by i_love_squirrels at 2:30 PM on October 24, 2008

I do not think the purchase of simple gold stud earrings is an investment that requires a financial analysis of gold futures.

Anon, I don't know what the standard in Egypt. In the US, it's 14 karat gold. In Europe, it's 18 karat. They are slightly different colors. You can get earrings that are mde entirely out of solid god from top to bottom, but it is more common for the balls to be hollow or plate and the backings and posts to be brass. In the US these would retail at around $25.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:02 PM on October 24, 2008

You need to know that a pair of gold studs is only a big deal to the extent that you like it and feel good about it. Don't be intimidated. You're not looking at a huge investment. These not going to be part of your retirement fund. Just get what you like.
posted by jon1270 at 5:23 PM on October 24, 2008

The only (visible) thing different about different karats is the color. Obviously, the more carats the more "goldy" color there will be. Also, different places use different mixtures of metals in making jewelry which also affects the color. I am allergic to some of the gold/metal mixtures that jewelers sell here in the US for their 14K gold, so that's something to consider. Most of my gold earrings are 22 carat. As a consequence, they are relatively "soft" which means I have to be somewhat careful in not bending them. I think as long as you go to a reputable jeweler, you won't get sold imitation stuff. Just buy what looks pretty to you! Like everyone else said, it's not a huge investment like diamonds or something.
posted by bluefly at 5:33 AM on October 25, 2008