From King Tut to Alan Greenspan: Gold is All the Rage

Since the beginning of recorded civilization, men have espoused gold's significance, beauty and worth in cultures the world over. Democritus, ancient Greek philosopher, wrote: "Gold is the sovereign of all sovereigns." English writer and social commentator Charles Dickens coined the phrase, "As good as gold." And former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan commented on gold's global worth saying, "Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world…Gold is always accepted."

Cornerstone of the world's economies and banking systems, gold has been long valued for not only its perceived value, but also its beauty. While its earliest uses may have been more utilitarian as material for prehistoric tools, gold became valued for its beauty, as evidenced in the gold art objects and jewelry discovered by archaeologists in the Sumerian Royal Tombs at Ur dating back to 3,000 B.C. Egyptians used gold to adorn their kings in both life and death. After being entombed for more than 3,000 years, the gold mask of King Tutankamen was discovered in 1927 – its untarnished brilliance a spectacle to behold. Similarly, goldsmiths of the Peruvian Chavin civilization around 1200 B.C. fashioned gold ornaments through hammering and embossing techniques.

Gold became such a desired commodity, Greek, Chinese and Arabic cultures around the 5th century tried to develop an elixir through quasi-scientific methods which would change base metals into gold. Their efforts were the basis for the modern science of chemistry.

While greatly valued by the Roman Empire, gold reached a scarcity in Europe until Christopher Columbus visited America in 1492. Europeans' love for gold was reawakened with hopes that this newly-discovered continent would yield great riches of gold and more. Spanish mercenaries invaded Peru and Mexico where gold was found to be used lavishly as art objects, in buildings and as jewelry. Sadly, much of it was melted down and shipped back to Spain and refashioned for palaces and churches, as well as adornment for royalty.

Techniques for uncovering more gold, which had been largely discovered in river beds, were developed into what we know as panning. Utilizing this technique, miners unearthed most of the world's major finds during the second half of the 19th century. In fact, the output during this time was 10,000 tons compared to 750 tons for the entire first century after the discovery of America. Important gold discoveries of recent times include the Californian Gold Rush of 1849, Australian Gold Rush of 1851 and the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896. However, it was the Witwatersrand Find of 1886 in South Africa that became the site of the greatest gold find in history. Because this gold was embedded in rock, it could not be recovered through traditional panning methods, which resulted in the establishment of new gold mining methods, which were now achieved through large corporations, rather than individual miners.

While gold has continued to back up the currencies of many countries, it has also established itself as a beloved form of adornment through the ages. Gold's ability to remain unaffected by elements such as oxygen and water create a resistance to tarnishing, rusting or corroding. Its characteristics of permanence and strength make it a preferred choice in jewelry. When cared for correctly, gold can last a lifetime and easily beyond.

Gold may be very durable, but owners of such jewelry should avoid using harsh abrasives when cleaning their pieces. Also, household cleaners can contain harsh chemicals which can weaken or damage gold jewelry. Therefore, a gentle cleansing solution, such as a gold cleaning liquid or dish soap mixed with warm water, should be used for cleaning. A chamois of lint-free cloth are safe alternatives for drying as opposed to paper towels which can scratch gold surfaces. Gold's number one enemy is chlorine, so be sure to avoid wearing jewelry in a pool or Jacuzzi.

For those whose gold jewelry is beginning to discolor skin or clothing, the culprit may be your cosmetics which often contain compounds harder than the jewelry and rub off tiny particles of the gold piece. Appearing in the form of a black dust, it can form a black smudge on skin or clothing. To avoid this, consider applying makeup prior to putting jewelry on or switching cosmetics.

Proper storage of gold jewelry helps to maintain its luster and life. It should be stored separately in a jewelry box or wrapped in a lint-free cloth when not being worn. Keeping jewelry stored separately from one another helps to prevent scratching and tangling.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry.  Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, contact Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit LewisJewelers.com.