[Nicole]

Is 14K considered low KT gold? With gold prices going the way they are, soon I won't be able to even afford 14K!

As far as the reaming is concerned, I can't relate to most of what you've all said. I bought an inexpensive 3 pack of reamers at the craft store, and I use the thinnnest one on my pearls. I dip it into a cup of water while I turn the reamer inside the pearl a little bit. I can't imagine how the reamer would break, or what I would do with a battery powered one. Wouldn't it make the hole too big too fast?

Nicole

[knotty panda]

Beats me -- I'm just glad to hear from you! Hi! No, I don't think 14KT is low, 9KT and 10KT, yes. I've bent reamers, and I call that broken. I haven't really "broken" one now that you mention it. I don't know what a battery operated one does because I've never used one, but Boo's right. Get a bead holder/tweezer, so you don't injure yourself.

[Satine De La Courcel]

Originally Posted by Nicole

Is 14K considered low KT gold? With gold prices going the way they are, soon I won't be able to even afford 14K!

Um no not "low" per say. 24K gold is Pure Gold 14K used to be the "Norm" for Jewelry it means less gold and more otehr materials but I do not remember the percentages anymore.

However I have been noticing an increase in 12, 11, 10 and 9K gold stamped on pieces.. its gradual but I am nosy so I check out the stamp marks when I window shop at B&M stores..

[Nicole]

I don't think 14K has more other materials than gold. I believe 12K is 50% gold, so over that is higher % gold, and under that is lower %.

I've been noticing an increase in gold-plated and gold-filled jewelry items. I wonder if someone came upon a huge pocket of undiscovered gold somewhere if that would reverse the trend. I don't suppose that's going to happen, though.

Hi knotty! It occurred to me that people probably bent or broke their reamers on harder gemstones or bead-nuked pearls. I can't see it happening on CFWP.

Nicole