How Do I Tell If My Gold Jewelry Is Out Of Style?

Because of the everlasting appeal and popularity of gold jewelry, it's a pretty safe bet that your gold jewelry will never go "out of style". It may, however, just not look right for your "personal style", or it may be lower quality than you realized when you bought it. Some gold jewelry even discolors over time and slick jewelers and pawn shops will sell you "gold plated" versus gold-filled jewelry.

How do you take steps to make sure your gold jewelry is as timeless and stylish as it is beautiful? Here are a few tips to make sure your gold is "pulling its weight".

Pure gold is 24 karat gold. For most pieces of gold jewelry, 24 karat gold is too soft to make a lasting, stylish design - so the gold is mixed with other metals to make it stronger as well as give it a distinctive color and weight. These metals could include copper, zinc, silver and even nickel. Depending on the type of metal used, and how much of it the gold jewelry contains, most gold is labeled between 10-18 karats.

One trick used by smooth pawn shop operators and some unethical jewelers is the gold-plated versus gold-filled jewelry pitch. Gold plated jewelry is formed by using another metal base (silver or nickel are the most common) with a gold plating on top. You'll often see these marketed as "24 karat gold plated" jewelry, for example.

Unfortunately there is no standard for how much gold "plating" is layered on the jewelry. This means that the gold may actually start to tarnish, rub off or discolor due to a reaction with the metal underneath it.

Gold-filled jewelry is more expensive but also much more valuable. Because gold is so malleable and adaptable, jewelers can create a hollow gold "tube" and fill it with another metal. This makes for a heavier piece of gold jewelry, but because the quality is much higher than gold plating, many jewelers add a stamp to designate the jewelry's purity.

Whether you have gold plated jewelry or gold filled jewelry, how often you wear it often depends on your own personal taste and style. Perhaps that brooch your great aunt Martha gave you just looks too gaudy for your more sophisticated dress or you've lost one of those 18 karat gold earrings your mom gave you for your birthday and its mate is languishing in your jewelry box, unworn.

Whatever the case, you don't have to let your unwanted or broken gold jewelry pile up. Thanks to the web, you can make some extra cash with it - no questions asked. One of the most reputable companies that pays well for gold jewelry is cash4gold.com. Since they have a refinery right on-site, they can afford to pay you more for your gold than your local pawn shop or consignment store.

Sending in your gold jewelry is completely free and discreet. Cash4Gold even insures the gold kit packet that your jewelry is mailed in, to help prevent and protect against theft or loss. And in the rare event you decide you just can't live without Aunt Martha's gaudy brooch after all - Cash4Gold gives you ample time to request your items back.

If you're concerned that your gold jewelry just isn't "your style", don't let it take up any more unnecessary space in your jewelry box. There are a lot more trendy pieces you'll be able to buy with the cash you get from selling it instead!