Gold

I thought I would write about a substance that has been known since prehistoric times, something we in the jewellery trade handle on a daily basis, and craftspeople and consumers probably take a little for granted. What am I talking about – Gold!

As we are so used to seeing, and wearing gold I thought you might like to know a few interesting facts and something of the symbolism and myth associated with it.

Along with copper, gold was the first metal to be discovered by man, around 5000BC, and is referred to as a precious and a noble metal.

Number 79 on the periodic table, it’s chemical symbol being Au derives from the Latin aurum, which means ‘shining dawn’. Aurora was the Roman goddess of dawn which relates to the warm, yellow colour of gold. Other origins of the word come from Sanskrit Jval; Anglo-Saxon gold; meaning gold.

Gold has an excellent chemical stability, it’s impervious nature to most acids and oxidation/tarnishing associated the metal with the sun, as well as purity, power, wisdom, importance and immortality. Resulting in it becoming the most prized metal of all, demonstrated by its world-wide popularity as the chosen metal for wedding rings.

The wedding band itself, a symbol of eternal union through its never ending circle, is supported by the lasting qualities of the metal. There is much folklore in gold’s magical properties, a common belief for the cure of throat ailments was to wear a row of gold beads around the neck. To cure eye complaints it was thought that the patient should rub the area with a gold ring, and to strengthen eyesight one should wear a gold earring. Although these particular cures are maybe less well known now, there is still a strong ongoing belief by many in the healing properties of gold jewellery.

Gold’s gemstone partner is diamond, the greatest of all stones, also symbolic of the sun’s light and purity because of its vibrancy and transparency, its hardness connected with immortality and incoruption, for this reason it was believed to be the embodiment of Christ.

Gold has spiritual connections, not only being one of the three gifts given by the Magi to the newly born baby Jesus, it has been chosen by the church for it’s radiant splendour and purity. Also because historically it was considered to be an earthly manifestation of solar spiritual energy in solidified form, therefore was regarded as noble enough to honour the glory of God, and play a religiously important role. God reveals himself through the purity and lustre of gold (and silver – gold’s Luna partner), when polished symbolic of God’s shining light. For this reason the interior gates inside Cathedrals are made from gold, and are a symbolic reference to the gates of heaven.

When alloyed with other metals gold is measured in Carats (or Karats if in America). A Carat was originally a unit of mass (weight) based on a bean or Carob seed which was used by ancient merchants in the Middle East. Gem stones are still weighed in Carats, the weight of 1 carat equalling 200mg. Gold now uses Carats to measure the purity of the metal – pure gold is 24 carats.

Quick facts:

Isotopes: There are 18 isotopes of gold. Gold-198, with a half-life of 2.7 days, has been used to treat cancer and other illnesses.

Density (g/cc): 19.3

Melting Point (°K): 1337.58

Boiling Point (°K): 3080

Colour: In mass, gold is a yellow-coloured metal, although it may be purple, black, or ruby when finely divided.

Malleability: One ounce of gold can be beaten out to 300ft2

Heat: Gold is a good conductor of electricity and heat.

Versatile uses: Because gold is inert and a good reflector of infrared radiation, a very thin layer of 24ct gold is applied to the visors of astronauts helmets to fend off dangerous effects of solar radiation. To ensure reliable, corrosion-resistant and static-free performance of satellite microelectronics which instantaneously relay data around the globe, gold components are used. Gold is being used more and more in advanced technologies such as optics, telecommunications, aviation as well as space. Even in medicine injectable gold has been proven in modern times to help reduce the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis.

Hope you enjoyed learning a few things you hopefully didn’t know about gold.