Gold / Silver
Gold and silver have accompanied jewellery making for thousands of years. Both are metallic elements that can occur in nature in their metallic form, but differ in colour, weight and response to their surroundings. Alongside their role as raw materials for goldsmithing, they carry cultural and personal meanings of value, beauty and connection.
Material properties
| Property | Gold | Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Material | A metallic element; a native-element mineral | A metallic element; a native-element mineral |
| Chemical symbol | Au | Ag |
| Crystal system | Cubic | Cubic |
| Colour when pure | Golden yellow | Silvery white |
| Transparency | Opaque | Opaque |
| Lustre | Metallic | Metallic |
| Hardness when pure | 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale | 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale |
| Specific gravity when pure | Approximately 19.3 | Approximately 10.5 |
| Workability | Malleable and ductile | Malleable and ductile |
These values refer to the pure metals. Natural metals and jewellery alloys may contain additional elements that influence their properties.
What do gold and silver look like in nature?
Native gold can occur as grains, flakes, nuggets, branching forms or crystals. It may be embedded in rock or accumulate in placer deposits following weathering of the host rock.
Native silver can form twisted wires, branches, sheets and crystals. Tarnish may darken its surface, so silver found in nature does not always look as white and bright as polished jewellery.
Natural metal is not necessarily pure metal
A gold nugget is not necessarily 24-karat gold: native gold often contains silver, copper and other elements. Native silver may also contain other elements. Colour and appearance alone cannot establish purity.
Gold and silver in jewellery
Jewellery making commonly uses alloys — mixtures of metals — to adapt hardness, colour and working properties to the piece.
Karat in gold describes the proportion of gold in the alloy: 18-karat gold contains 75% gold, while 14-karat gold contains approximately 58.5% gold. In gemstones, by contrast, a carat is a unit of weight: one carat equals 0.2 grams.
Sterling silver, marked 925, contains 92.5% silver. The mark describes metal purity, rather than plating.
The marking 999 indicates 99.9% purity, while 9999 (or 999.9) indicates 99.99% purity. In gold, these fineness levels are considered 24-karat gold. The markings describe metal purity, not the item’s weight.
At TzurGems, we create mainly in 14- and 18-karat gold. The alloy is selected to suit the design, gemstones and intended use of the jewellery.
Sources around the world
Gold: Recognised sources include Australia, South Africa, Canada, the United States, Russia and Brazil. Australia is also known for placer nuggets, while California and Alaska have both lode and placer deposits.
Silver: Native silver is known from Mexico, Canada, the United States, Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic and Australia. Kongsberg in Norway is especially renowned for striking crystalline and wire silver specimens.
Spiritual and symbolic meaning — gold
Gold is associated with the sun, warmth, vitality and self-expression. It symbolises confidence, creativity and making room for personal talents and wishes. Its warm colour offers an image of inner light and acting from a sense of worth and meaning.
In symbolism, it is also linked with abundance, nobility and the maturation of a personal process. Gold jewellery can carry the meaning of achievement, love or a milestone — a reminder of something we wish to keep close.
Spiritual and symbolic meaning — silver
Silver is associated with the moon, listening, intuition and introspection. It symbolises sensitivity and acceptance, and the ability to slow down and notice what lies beneath the surface.
In spiritual practice, it is linked with dreams, cycles and emotional connection. Alongside gold’s solar symbolism, silver represents soft, reflected light — inspiration for listening inwardly and allowing processes to unfold gradually.
These meanings belong to the realm of belief and symbolism. They can give jewellery personal significance, but they are not proven gemological properties or a promise of healing, protection or a change in health.