Glorious Gold

Down through the ages man has had a somewhat tenacious relationship with gold. Wars have been fought over it, crimes have been committed in the pursuit of it, and even news has been spread by it, yet 80% of the worlds gold still lies deep in the earth. There are many fascinating facts about gold that many people don't know about. For example, if you stack 250,000 sheets of gold leaf on top of each other they will only stand one inch high! Also if you stretch just one ounce of gold it will reach for fifty miles! It has been a source of wealth for literally thousands of years with even ancient cultures using it to coat the walls of temples. In early history the Inca's considered gold to be the 'sweat of the sun' and they literally forced conquered peoples to coat their Temple of the Sun with pure gold.

Its ability to motivate the masses are best illustrated by the US gold rush in the 1800s when people from all over the east of America battled against untold hurdles to travel west to get their hands on this precious metal. Once gold was discovered in other parts of the world it's price became more affordable to the public. Originally it was only used by royalty and the like but mass production of jewelry etc started after the American gold rush. Indeed, gold is so versatile that it can be made into gold thread for embroidery and this is used on items like royal robes and high church tapestries and such like. Gold is also found in several countries. Welsh gold is so rare that all the wedding rings used by the British royal family are made from it making the rings rather unique. Today there are many machines that 'knit' gold wire into chains of every design and description. The choice is virtually endless and across every price range from the economical to the astronomical. Gold is made into many other forms of jewelry besides the ubiquitous chain. Earrings, charms, bracelets, anklets, belly- rings, nose studs, you name it, it can be made in gold and sometimes with precious or semi-precious stones added for that extra decorative touch. Along with the usual yellow gold, rose and white gold is now on offer. Many modern day couples prefer to use white gold for their wedding and engagement rings to offset the white of the diamonds they choose. When considering gold jewelry as a gift, first take note of the person's style. Delicate, filigree earrings would not suit a sporty type neither would a belly-ring be much appreciated by your grandmother - unless she is very forward thinking! Stud earrings are usually worn during daytime but some ladies (and now men) would wear them at night as well depending on the outfit they are wearing and the occasion. Dangling earrings are normally worn with short hair or with an 'up do' but again, there is no hard and fast rule here. Usually it is the person's sense of style that dictates when and where to wear them. For gold chains and ropes, the importance is on length and thickness of the chain. Of course, the longer and thicker the chain the higher the cost, but some people will not appreciate this. Delicate, fine chains will not be strong enough for pendants and thick rope chains may be overly heavy for a small woman. Although some people like to wear several chains at once, it may be wise to consider the lengths of the chains. If they all were the same length then you will probably end up with a tangled mess hanging around your neck. Better to graduate the length so each one falls neatly below the other so that they can all be admired. The same applies for bracelets. Some will like solid bar type designs while others will go for the delicate and 'lacey' look. Others will like the charms that can be collected through the years and for this a rather solid bracelet will be needed for the foundation. Charms come in a huge variety of designs; clusters of rings (wedding, engagement etc complete with diamond), microphones, bells, babies etc. Anything you can imagine can usually be found as a charm and this is a great way to commemorate events throughout someone's life; the birth of a child, graduation or engagement etc. 'Gate' bracelets are also very popular with several gate-like units linked together to make the bracelet and with possible a padlock on the end finishing the look. Don't forget that ladies are now happy to wear anklets of fine gold. This once construed something other than a lady worthy of respect but fashions have changed and now many like to wear this sparkling addition to any outfit. Many have been designed with beautiful dangling accessories like butterflies and/or flowers; some come with heart shapes linked together. There is nothing more feminine than a well turned ankle in delicate shoes and a golden chain drawing the eye! Brooches seem to have gone out of fashion a little but they are still around for those who like them. Even rings come in many designs to suit any hand and any budget. 'Ring' the changes by choosing the beautiful rose colored gold or even the white which resembles platinum - another very precious metal. Some rings are fashioned into delicate flowers and look great even on an older lady; in fact, gold fits any age or any style so the choice is almost limitless. Whichever piece of jewelry you choose to give as a gift it will be well received. Nothing says you care more than a beautiful piece of gold jewelry particularly if it is exactly what the person wanted. All you have to do is take a little time, do a little homework and consider the style of the recipient. You will be rewarded with huge respect and gratitude and you can be assured that your gift will be treasured for many years.