# Gold **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626 "2000-10-20T03:39:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/1 "2000-10-20T03:39:06Z")
In gold I know that if it is a certain karat then it is that many parts out of 64. (Like 10k is 10 parts gold to every 64 parts.) But what I don’t understand is what comprises the rest of the “gold.” ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/2 "2000-10-20T03:49:32Z")
IIRC, 24k is “pure” (not completely, but close enough). The rest is usually copper, nickel, or silver, depending on the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/3 "2000-10-20T03:51:23Z")
Actually, it’s parts per 24. So 24 carat gold is pure gold. That’s rarely used in jewelry because gold is so soft. IIRC, silver is a common “filler” metal for the missing carats. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/4 "2000-10-20T03:53:44Z")
I think that gold karats are measured out of 24 parts, not 64… Anyway, the metals gold is most often alloyed with are silver and copper, because they have similar properties. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/5 "2000-10-20T06:32:50Z")
Copper, silver, nickel, zinc, platinum, chromium, cobalt, tin, zinc, indium and palladium are commonly used in the most popular alloys of gold. White gold may be alloyed with zinc, nickel, palladium, copper and/or silver in varying proportions, and is rhodium-plated for extra shiny whiteness. Increase the proportions of silver in the mix and you get green gold. Increase the proportions of copper and you get red/rose gold. Yellow gold is indeed primarily alloyed with silver and copper. You can alloy 23k gold with a very small amount of titanium for a fairly hard alloy while retaining the buttery color of pure gold, and there’s some other funky combos besides. Adding aluminum gets a purply-plum colored gold, but I hear it’s a bear to work with. Gold and steel can make blue gold, which is hardly ever seen. “Hamilton” is a rose-yellow alloy of gold. Probably TMI, but I _like_ gold. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/6 "2000-10-20T12:21:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gaudere \* > **You can alloy 23k gold with a very small amount of titanium for a fairly hard alloy while retaining the buttery color of pure gold…** Gaudere, is there a trade or common name for this alloy of gold you mention? It sounds really cool! Una ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/7 "2000-10-20T15:08:01Z")
Not that I know of. I’ve only seen it used in a very few modern one-of-a-kind pieces in fine jewelery design shows. I thought it was pretty cool, too. Some places make titainum and gold two-tone pieces, and plain titanium wedding bands appear to be becoming popular. I don’t know that I’d get a pure titanium ring, though; I’ve been too well-trained that light metal==cheap and it just wouldn’t feel right. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/8 "2000-10-20T15:17:36Z")
No-one ever said you were cheap that’s for sure 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/9 "2000-10-20T16:50:24Z")
Titanium freaks can visit [Titanium Wedding Rings](http://titaniumrings.com/) to see some [gold inlay rings](http://titaniumrings.com/band1.html#goldinlays). If you want that ring that Ed Harris wore in _The Abyss_, the one that looks like a short length of pipe, it’s [here](http://www.titaniumrings.com/abyss.html). ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gold/37626/10 "2000-10-20T16:58:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gaudere \* > \*\*Not that I know of. I’ve only seen it used in a very few modern one-of-a-kind pieces in fine jewelery design shows. I thought it was pretty cool, too. Some places make titainum and gold two-tone pieces, and plain titanium wedding bands appear to be becoming popular. I don’t know that I’d get a pure titanium ring, though; I’ve been too well-trained that light metal==cheap and it just wouldn’t feel right. \*\* I’m a weird and exotic metal fan. If I could find an iridium, osmium, tungsten, or some sort of odd metal ring that was not overly outrageous I would buy it. Just because it would be cool.