Gold has historically had a very high value around the world. This is due to its low quantity and high utility. Gold is one of the most useful metals in the United States and in the rest of the world. Its use is associated with jewelry and much more.
What is gold used for?
For this section, data is taken on what gold is used for in the United States and it is intended to extrapolate to the areas in which this metal can be used worldwide.
Gold is used in electricity and is also used for tool casting processes. Gold has a color that is very attractive and contains a wonderful shine that is most captivating. Gold is also used for the construction area
Now here you have 6 uses of gold.
1. Jewelry is the main use of gold
More than 50% of the gold used today is destined for the jewelry industry. It is generally used to make rings, necklaces and bracelets that are used as gifts. The great versatility of gold has allowed artisans to create combinations with gold.
Is pure gold suitable for jewelry?
It must be taken into account that pure gold is too soft to withstand stress and that it could influence products made with gold.
This fact has made artisans learn that one way to solve that problem is to make gold alloys with other metals such as copper, silver and platinum, which will increase the durability of gold products and jewelry and also take on colors and Unique features.
Gold alloys in jewelry
Now that it is understood that gold alloys with other metals help improve the quality of the final product, it is necessary to understand the percentage of gold found in each product.
For example, pure gold is known as 24 karat gold and is often represented by 24K. Thus, an alloy that contains 50% gold by weight would then be 12 carat gold (12/24) and would be marked as 12K.
Another alloy containing 75% gold would then be 18 carat (18/24) or 18K gold.
In general, the higher the percentage of gold a jewel has, the more valuable and expensive it will be and it will also have better tarnish behavior over time.
The different colors of gold in Jewelry
Did you know that gold jewelry can have an endless number of colors and this is because they are alloyed with other metals, take the following graph as an example.
In the image you can see different colors that are produced by alloying different amounts of gold, silver and finally, copper
For example:
- An alloy of 75% gold, 16% silver and 9% copper produces yellow gold.
- White gold is an alloy of 75% gold, 4% silver, 4% copper and 17% palladium.
- Other alloys produce pink, green, peach and even black metals.
Today most of the gold that is mined is used in jewelry making, around 78% of gold is used each year in jewelry making. It is given more use in jewelry for its diversity of adaptation and detail. It can be used for rings and shapes can also be cast.
In addition, the use of gold has become a tradition, artisans learned to alloy gold with other metals such as copper, silver. It would increase its durability, since then most gold used is a gold alloy.
2. Financial uses of gold: Coins, bars, backup
More than 5,000 years ago, gold began to be used to represent wealth. Its use began with the exchange of money and now has come to serve as savings for many nations. Gold has been used as a transactional instrument for its value. It has also been used for the acquisition of personal savings.
The gold standard, as currency support, is widely used in the economies of the world. This has been done to safeguard the value of money and have a gold backing. Nations like the United States have been promoters of the use of this endorsement.
It should be noted that gold is converted into what is known as ingots. And it also serves as a backup in the Central Banks of the countries.
3. Uses of gold in electronics
Gold is used in small parts as spare parts or components necessary for the operation of electronic devices. Some of these are cell phones and the satellite tracking system. Another of the devices that come with some gold are televisions. But said amount of gold is minimal.
About a hundred million phones produced in the world have small gold particles.
4. Uses of gold in computers
There are various ports and/or connectors that are made up of gold. This is so in order for said parts to have optimal and long-lasting performance. Also its use in computing lies in the fact that it is the safest conductor of electricity.
5. Uses of gold in dentistry
Gold was previously used for fillings, crowns, bridges, and orthodontic appliances. Gold is known to have been used as early as 700 BC.
Gold has long been used to repair teeth and for orthodontics. Gold was used for dental pieces until around 1970.
6. Medical uses of gold
Gold has been used to treat diseases. But this is used in the form of particles and in small quantities. Also various instruments used for surgery carry low amounts of gold.