Gold Design History 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The purity of gold in design is measured in what unit?
- Carats (weight)
- Karats (Correct answer)
- Grams per liter
- Microns
Correct answer: Karats
Gold purity is expressed in karats, with 24K being pure gold.
Question 2: 24-karat gold is considered too soft for most jewelry, so designers commonly alloy it with what?
- Lead
- Copper and silver (Correct answer)
- Aluminum
- Tin only
Correct answer: Copper and silver
Copper and silver are added to harden gold and adjust its color.
Question 3: Rose gold gets its pinkish hue in design from a higher proportion of which alloy metal?
- Silver
- Palladium
- Copper (Correct answer)
- Nickel
Correct answer: Copper
Copper gives rose gold its warm reddish-pink color.
Question 4: White gold typically achieves its color by alloying gold with what and often a rhodium plate?
- Palladium or nickel (Correct answer)
- Copper
- Bronze
- Brass
Correct answer: Palladium or nickel
White gold uses white metals like palladium or nickel, often finished with rhodium plating.
Question 5: An '18K gold' stamp on a designed piece means the metal is what fraction pure gold?
- 18/24 (75%) (Correct answer)
- 18/100
- 18/20
- Fully pure
Correct answer: 18/24 (75%)
18K means 18 parts gold out of 24, equaling 75% purity.
Question 6: A 'gold-filled' design item differs from gold plating because it has what?
- A thicker bonded gold layer (Correct answer)
- No gold at all
- A solid gold core
- Painted gold finish
Correct answer: A thicker bonded gold layer
Gold-filled items have a substantially thicker mechanically bonded gold layer than plating.
Question 7: Vermeil is a design material defined as what?
- Brass coated in lacquer
- Sterling silver coated with gold (Correct answer)
- Solid 24K gold
- Gold-colored plastic
Correct answer: Sterling silver coated with gold
Vermeil is sterling silver plated with a layer of gold.
Gold Design History 3
The purity of gold in design is measured in what unit?