In terms of value Saudi gold tends to be more valuable than Chinese gold because it is made with a higher standard of craftsmanship and has a longer history. Prices for both Chinese and Saudi-made jewelry will vary depending on many factors such as the brand karatage and size of the jewelry 🇨🇳 🔛 🇸🇦.
Remember, Chinese gold has a high standard of purity and because of this usually bears the numbers 999, 9999 or 999.5. Another hallmark of Chinese gold is Chinese characters, engraved on the inside or bottom of the gold item. The characters can represent a couple different things including the purity and maker.
However, some sellers are using marketing terms such as Italy gold, Japan gold, and Saudi gold—is it a fact that Saudi gold is better than other country's gold? Setting the records straight, the answer is no. Some people claim that the shade of gold is counted as a measuring quality.
Japan gold is more expensive than Saudi gold despite having the same karat because Japan adds value on the design of the jewelry whereas Saudi doesn't care how the jewelry looked like and just sell it per gram, per karat.
In Saudi Arabia, gold is subject to zero value-added tax (VAT), if the purity of the metal is 99 per cent or above. So, the prices are relatively cheaper in Saudi Arabia than in other countries.
Countries such as Switzerland, Australia, and Canada are known for producing high-purity gold, while countries such as China and Russia are the largest producers of gold in the world.
The jewellery made with 24k is so soft that it can be broken easily. Therefore, 22k gold is a better investment for jewellery as it is mixed with other metals like zinc, copper, silver, making it harder than 24k. Also, preferring jewellery in 22k helps to get a better value at the time of selling.
Yellow gold is described as such because of its yellow colour which is a result of it being alloyed with silver and copper.
Chinese Gold / Hong Kong Gold
Pure gold is very bright, soft and will never rust or tarnish. The gold is often times marked “999”, “9999” or “999.5”. Gold from China may also be marked with Chinese characters.
Hong Kong. One of Asia's biggest financial hubs, Hong Kong is one of the best countries to buy gold. Moreover, the best place to buy gold in Hong Kong is a bank. They have no shortage of capital or gold reserves, making them excellent offshore banking options.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is known for its vast and high quality gold reserves. For this reason, gold is sold here at a lower rate than in most other countries, and the fact that the sales tax or VAT is only 5% makes the prospect of buying the precious metal even more appealing!
To identify Saudi gold, you can perform a simple test known as the float test or density test. Being a pure metal, Saudi gold tends to sit down in the water while other metals tend to float. So, take a jar, fill it with water and add the gold to it. If it sinks: you have real Saudi gold, if it floats it is fake.
The Best: 24K Gold
Because of this, it has a uniquely rich, bright yellow hue. This pureness and rare color makes 24k gold highly desirable, the most expensive, and most often used in fine jewelry. Because 24k gold does not have traces of other metals, the pieces are known for being 'softer.
While 24K gold is the purest, it is not possible to make jewellery out of it and hence gold jewellery has varying degrees of purity like 22K, 18K and so on. "The 24K gold is used to make coins, bars and has gold in its highest purity.
Check for Hallmark
The hallmark specifies the purity of gold in karats or under the Millesimal Fineness system. It mentions the purity as certified by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). Manufacturers also stamp an identity mark on their ornaments.
Asia: China, India, Turkey
In China, the highest standard is 24 karats – pure gold. The wedding ring often ranges a bit lower than 24 karats, but Chinese traditions allow for other pieces to be more decadent such as decoration, heirloom, pendants, earrings, and bracelets.
“Fool's Gold” is technically known as pyrite or iron sulfide (FeS2) and is one of the most common sulfide minerals. Sulfide minerals are a group of inorganic compounds containing sulfur and one or more elements.
In addition to this, 21k gold has more shine and lustre than 18k gold, which is yet another reason that makes it an ideal choice for fine jewellery and artifacts.
Well, it turns out “925 China” is a standard marking on jewelry to denote sterling silver jewelry. If you see “925” or “925 China” stamped on what you thought was your gold jewelry, then the jewelry has 92.5% sterling silver content and is merely gold-plated. The remaining 7.2% is composed of other metal elements.
Price & Value: In this context, there is no major difference between white and yellow gold, as long as it has the same carat weight. But it's slightly more expensive than yellow gold jewellery because of mixing and coating in the manufacturing process.
There is no price value difference between the actual gold in white and yellow gold jewellery, as long as it is hallmarked at the same carat weight. So for example, 18K white gold and 18K yellow gold will contain the same percentage of gold.
Perhaps the best option for most investors looking to own physical gold is to buy gold bullion directly from the Royal Australian Mint, so you know you are purchasing from a reputable dealer.
14K (58% gold and 42% alloyed metals)
It's ideal for everyday use and is the most popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. If you have an active lifestyle (sports, regular exercise, manual labor, etc.), 14K jewelry would be the best option for you.
The types of gold are (according to the Karat) –
24k being the most pure but the most delicate. 22k – slightly lesser purity but more durable than 24k. 18k – 75% pure comparatively more durable than the above types. 14k – 58% pure as an average value but way more durable than the 18k.