Gold and Thai Gold?

Post by **coloradokid** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:03 pm

What is the difference between the gold I see at the "red colored " gold shops I see around and the gold that is available in other parts of the world. The gold here seems to be more yellow. Is this a more pure and therefore more expensive gold?

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:08 pm

The difference is in the number of carats. Most of the gold sold in other parts of the world is the 18 carat variety. It is preferred as it is fairly robust. The gold you get here is of the 22 carat variety. It is purer, but a lot softer, and so may not keep it's shape over time.

Pure gold is 24 carats. So 18 carat gold would have 18 parts of gold with the rest (6 parts) made up of alloys.

Post by **coloradokid** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:19 pm

Thank you very much. That takes all the mystery out of it. Cheers!

Post by **caller** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:38 pm

That is indeed very useful, when I bought gold in BKK for the Khongman thing I always had a doubt about the value and colour - even though it was from a main department store - so is actually very re-assuring as well. Would you expect it to be hallmarked in any way?

Post by **Norseman** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:54 pm

The colour of the gold you find in jeweller stores here in Thailand contains more copper than "europen" gold.
Native gold contains usually eight to ten per cent silver, but often much more. If you mix gold with platinum it will be white.
It's the mix of metal that gives gold the colour, but gold is yellow and gold is gold. You can mix it, but no gold is purer than other gold.
If you have a wristwatch made of filled gold, then it's gold but the layer is of microscopical dimensions.
Gold is gold and worth a fortune.

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:11 am

caller wrote:...snip,snip..
Would you expect it to be hallmarked in any way?

Yes, it should have a stamp identifying it's fineness somewhere on the item. For 22 carat gold, it is 916.

Here's a link for light reading..

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/gold.htm

Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:33 am

Is not 916 inplant grade surgical steel ?

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:42 pm

Err... Dr Dave

surely you meant AISI 316 L medical grade stainless steel instead?

Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:45 pm

yep just testing contains small amount of nickel as well as other metals which some patients show reaction to !

Post by **caller** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:48 pm

VincentD wrote:
caller wrote:...snip,snip..
Would you expect it to be hallmarked in any way?
Yes, it should have a stamp identifying it's fineness somewhere on the item. For 22 carat gold, it is 916.

Here's a link for light reading..

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/gold.htm

Now I'm not so reassured again - three gold chains, but all `links', can't imagine where there would be a hallmark? But the ring I'm wearing doesn't have one!!!

Post by **Norseman** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:46 pm

There's no law that say gold has to be hallmarked in every market.
Some do it, some don't.

Try a bite with your teeth.
Gold is soft.
Too much kopper; well, that's hard. Very hard.

Post by **Wesu** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:51 am

I guess white gold has usually palladium in it, not platinum.

Post by **caller** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:58 am

Norseman wrote:There's no law that say gold has to be hallmarked in every market.
Some do it, some don't.

Try a bite with your teeth.
Gold is soft.
Too much kopper; well, that's hard. Very hard.

Very wierd and not what I expected - but I just did this and it feels soft - well no teeth fell out!! But, how to explain, it felt soft! I'm feeling more re-assured.

Many thanks (again).

Post by **linktolinh** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 11:12 am

I'm not the expert but from a VNese experience about the color i can tell you that: the asian gold is different from western gold because the cara index is higher ( is that right)
here the gold are more shining, more yellow we call it "Local gold" with 22 - 24 cara in Vietnam, it's softer and it's right that you can bite it and change the shape yourself.

The "Western gold" ( that how we call) are mostly imported from Russia, Italia.. Russian gold is RED and we don't like it and Italian gold is more shinning and fashion. They are 16 - 18 cara

I found gold in Thailand is selling like vegetable in Vietnam!!!
You can buy it in supermarket, airport, shopping mall, in small shop, big shop, china town ... gold is everywhere...

I always got trouble in looking for something in gold shops in Thailand or Laos and ended up by giving up.

I only bought a ring for my mom from Thailand and it now turned to white in some spot. My BF bought me a white gold with 4 little diamons in Princess Diamon BKK and I never have a feeling that it's real, or at least it only shines 2 or 3 times

.

In Vietnam a gold shop is REALLY SOMETHING!!! he he he and you can always sure that you just bought a real gold after several tests, guarantee papers, company sign... blab blab...

Anyway I'm not good in gold, jewery as well as "make up" so I just stay pale

Post by **Dougal** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 1:29 am

In Thailand gold is gold. The Thai people buy gold when they have spare money and sell it again when they need cash, so a goldshop selling fake gold would be found out in five minutes. Provided you buy from a recognised shop you can't go wrong.

Selling in your home country might be an issue but Indian jewellers who are used to dealing with 'proper' gold will usually give you a fair value.

Hua Hin Forum

Gold and Thai Gold?

Gold and Thai Gold?

Thanks!