Initially, the Love bracelets were plated in gold, whereas current styles are made from luxury materials, namely 18-karat gold (available in yellow, white and pink) or 950 platinum.
LOVE bracelet, 18K yellow gold (750/1000), set with 4 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.42 carats.
LOVE bracelet, 18K yellow gold (750/1000).
LOVE bracelet, 18K yellow gold (750/1000), set with 204 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 2 carats.
As one of the top luxury jewelry houses in the world, Cartier uses some of the finest quality materials. The company uses 18k gold in their jewelry and real diamonds.
The 24 karat gold is more expensive than 22 or 18 Karat gold. It is soft and pliable and that's why not used in making regular forms of jewellery. The 24K gold is used to make coins, bars and is also used in electronics and medical devices. The 22 Karat gold is mostly used in making jewellery.
The price of gold depends on its purity, measured in karats or KT. The highest karat gold is 24K or pure gold. As pure gold is the highest quality, 24K gold is generally more expensive than 18K gold.
Cartier Gold Myths
Fact: When Cartier first established themselves as jewelry makers, much of their pieces were gold-plated. But today, Cartier jewelry, including LOVE bracelets, is 18k (or platinum). So, no, not pure gold. 18k means the piece comprises 75% gold and 25% mixed alloys.
Initially, the Love bracelets were plated in gold, whereas current styles are made from luxury materials, namely 18-karat gold (available in yellow, white and pink) or 950 platinum.
In Cartier's case, the excellent quality of its jewellery and watches, with their unique craftsmanship, is the reason why it always retains its value. With prestige jewellery collections featuring solid gold and high-quality diamonds, Cartier is famous for creating pieces for high-end clients with very good reason.
Real Cartier Love Bracelets are made from solid 18k yellow, rose and white gold stamped with 750. Platinum is stamped PT950. If the bracelet is silver, steel or gold-plated, it is fake. The bracelet's stones must be diamonds and or precious gems.
Metal bracelets and necklaces
“The biggest problem item is the Cartier Love bracelet. These bracelets can only be removed with a screwdriver, so they become an issue when going through security. It might be wise to put your jewelry on after screening to avoid a pat-down.”
Speaking in very broad strokes, a classic Cartier Love Bracelet on TrueFacet will resell for $5,000, earning any consignor upwards of $4,250. But some variations of the Love Bracelet can resell for over $8,000! The earning potential of your Cartier Love Bracelet is influenced by its size, metal type and overall style.
Diamonds make everything better, especially in terms of investment! Love 4 Diamond — the Cartier Love bracelet adorned with diamonds — is a good investment, holding 95% of its primary market retail value on the secondary market.
#1 Look For The Hallmark
Since the purity of American-made gold jewelry is measured in karats, there will be a stamp on these pieces with a number followed by the letter “K”. The number simply indicates, in parts per 24, how much of the metal is actually gold.
It is intended to be a part of your everyday life and you'll be glad to know that this bracelet can be worn just like that. Whether you are taking a shower, are busy in your daily life doing house chores or at the office typing on your computer, and even when you are sleeping.
24K (100% pure gold)
Pure gold can be easily scratched and bent, so it's impractical for daily wear (yet the most expensive). You wouldn't want to do housework while wearing a set of 24K bracelets, but if you're planning on attending a red-carpet event and want to make a statement, it might be another story.
The reason for this is the exceptional softness of gold. 24 karat gold is so soft, that it could easily be deformed and lose its firm grip on a jewel and allow it to slip or fall out of your ornament. Hence, order to have an ornament that is stronger. Most jewellers use 22 karat gold which is an alloy.
Since gold is relatively malleable, 24k gold is rarely used for jewelry that you might wear every day, like a wedding or engagement ring, since it's likely it would become misshapen. Adding an alloy like copper, iron, silver, zinc, or nickel makes it more affordable and much more durable and suitable for daily wear.
You can have your gold tested for purity at most jewelry stores. The jeweler will scratch the gold on a testing slab to take a sample of it and will then pour some acid (usually nitric acid) on the sample to see how it reacts. Depending on the chemical reaction observed, the karat of the gold can be determined.
In case you want to buy gold as an emergency fund or investment (or probably for diversifying your portfolio), then you should opt for 24K gold. It contains 99.9% gold while 22K contains 91.7% gold. When you buy a 24K gold bar or coin, make sure there it has hallmark certification for ensuring its purity.
Pure gold, such as 24 karat gold, cannot tarnish since it does not combine easily with oxygen. It is extremely rare to find a pure gold ring because base metals are alloyed alongside the gold to create a stronger and harder ring.