5. Is Gold Gold? 

A long time ago the powers that be introduced the assay system for testing and hallmarking pewter, silver and gold. This was introduced in an effort to stop the unscrupulous selling either, low grade metal, or another metal entirely, passed off as pewter, silver or gold.

The silver, gold and platinum quality system uses 1000 parts. So then what does this actually mean? 18 karat gold will be marked, usually stamped, 18k or 750. From those 1000 parts 750 parts are gold. The rest are other metallic elements, or alloys. These alloys are used to make the required colour or hardness of gold. Percentages might be easier to get a handle on. In the case of 18k or 750, 75% is pure 24k gold, or fine gold, and the rest alloys of other metals, usually more than one.

So, is 18k gold really gold?
Bearing in mind that 25% is usually copper, silver, zinc, or other metals that are used to alloy the gold. These are used in different quantities depending on the colour, or hardness, of gold that the goldsmith requires.

For 22K gold is marked 916 which is 91.6%  14k gold is marked at 585 which is 58.5% gold. 9k gold is marked 375, which makes the gold content a lowly 37.5%. Other metals used in jewelry are marked in the same fashion using the same criteria. Platinum, or PT is 950, more recently Palladium, or PD is 950, Sterling silver is 925, and the much less used Brittania silver which is 958.  As we can see these non gold, or white metals, are much less adulterated than gold.

Our question is.
When does gold stop being gold? At which percentage does gold stop being gold?

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