Are all Gold Bands Created Equal?

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afsweet

afsweet

O.G.
Aug 7, 2008
8,479
1,687
#1
I've always been under the impression that gold is gold no matter where you go. Yet the price of a simple gold band can fluctuate greatly depending on the retailer you visit.

So is a gold band at Tiffanys basically the same as a gold band at a mall jewelry store (as long as both bands are the same karat weight)? Or is their composition somehow different even if they both say 14k or 18k...
 
#2
The percentage of pure gold in 14K and 18K gold is the same no matter where you buy it. However, the exact alloy it is mixed with is different depending on where you buy and what kind of gold you buy. Rose gold, yellow gold and white gold all contain different percentages of different non-gold alloys to create their colors. But generally speaking the color of 14K and 18K yellow gold is pretty consistent from jeweler to jeweler, with few exceptions.

And given that the gold in a piece is what gives it its value, there is nothing inherently in the alloy that makes Tiffany 18K superior to, say, the 18K sold by Blue Nile. Workmanship, guarantees on the jewelry and other factors may be different, but while the composition may vary slightly, it isn't enough to create the difference in retail price.
 
#4
HauteMama said:
The percentage of pure gold in 14K and 18K gold is the same no matter where you buy it. However, the exact alloy it is mixed with is different depending on where you buy and what kind of gold you buy. Rose gold, yellow gold and white gold all contain different percentages of different non-gold alloys to create their colors. But generally speaking the color of 14K and 18K yellow gold is pretty consistent from jeweler to jeweler, with few exceptions.

And given that the gold in a piece is what gives it its value, there is nothing inherently in the alloy that makes Tiffany 18K superior to, say, the 18K sold by Blue Nile. Workmanship, guarantees on the jewelry and other factors may be different, but while the composition may vary slightly, it isn't enough to create the difference in retail price.
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The Gold Content is of the same percentage. Differences in price other what mentioned above, you are paying such a price because of the Label, Exclusive Design & Style, Workmanship & Marketing, when it stamped & hallmarked "T&CO", it is Quality Assured, Quality Guaranteed, a piece that will last for years to come. They are Fine Jewelry, you are paying a Price for a piece done by Master Artisan from Premium Designer Label. Other Jewelers may not be that wellknown doesn't mean they are less talented but they cannot be compared to Premium Designer Labels like T&CO,VCA or Boucheron. Just like you cannot compare Guess Handbag to a Louis Vuitton handbag even D&G cannot be compared to Dolce & Gabanna although they are of same Designer Label but they are of different line meant for different spending market. To some a bag is just a bag but to some a bag means something more. We clearly appreciate "Bags" or other Luxury in life thats why we are here.:smile1:
 
#6
It's rather hard to get jewellers to tell you the weight of the ring in either grams or pennyweight unless you buy some places online, or jewellers who are Chinese or Indian, or pawn shops. If you can find out the weight of the ring, you can compare apples to apples so far as the size.
You might like a particular design, tool, from a particular jeweler. When I got married, my husband and I chose matching rings from Artcarved, it's not a particularly high end company but we really liked the rings which were a combination of yellow gold with a white gold edging that looked good on both of us. They have held up well over the years too. (28 years)
 
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