The unparalleled beauty and qualities of gold make it one of the highest status symbols. There are several uses of Gold for our most noteworthy objects: wedding rings, Olympic medals, religious icons and Oscars.
Throughout history gold has been highly sought-after, revered and cherished. More than that, it is used for a myriad of applications and remains one of the most sought-after precious metals found on the planet.
Uses of Gold
- Jewelry
- Cosmetics and Beauty
- Finances and Investing
- Making Glass
- Dentistry and Medicine
- Treating Arthritis
- Aerospace
- Electronics
- Food and Beverages
Here are the uses defined in detail:
1. Jewelry
One of the most common uses of gold is making jewelry, which dates back to around 6,000 years ago. Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun’s famous burial mask was made from gold. Approximately 78% of the total gold mined each year is made into jewellery as it is very easy to work, can be drawn into wires, hammered into thin sheets, melted and cast into shapes, is tarnish resistant, has a very high lustre and a desirable yellow colour. Jewelry is still the most common way gold reaches consumers.
2. Cosmetics and Beauty
Gold has been touted as aiding in circulation, improving skin elasticity and tone and even having anti-ageing properties. As a result, it has been used as an ingredient in moisturizers, lip balms and skincare creams, to name a few.
3. Finances and Investing
Throughout history, gold has been seen as a symbol of wealth and used for financial transactions. The first purely gold coins are believed to have been manufactured in the Asia Minor kingdom of Lydia in 560 BC. This tradition continues today and gold is still the most popular precious metal for investments.
One of the most common ways to hold or invest in gold is in gold coins, gold bars, or gold bullion. South Africa’s Krugerrand is the world’s most widely-held and actively-traded gold bullion coin, developed by the country’s Minerals Council.
The first 22 karat gold Krugerrand was minted on 3 July 1967.
4. Making Glass
Primarily used as a pigment in specialty glass, a small amount of gold is suspended in annealed (or cooling) glass to give it a rich tint. Gold also has climate-controlling properties, which sees it utilized in glass for buildings (to keep them cool) and even jet windshields (to help defrost them at high altitudes).
5. Dentistry and Medicine
Gold has been used in dentistry since 700 BC. It is chemically inert, easy to insert and non-allergenic in nature and therefore highly suitable for fillings, crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances. The gold used in dentistry is predominantly white gold, usually 15 karat or higher, or a gold alloy.
Gold is also used in medicine in salt or radioisotope forms which are taken orally or via injection to alleviate certain conditions including severe rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis. Small amounts of gold isotopes are used in the diagnosis and treatment of certain illnesses. In lagophthalmos, a condition characterized by a person’s inability to close their eyes, a small amount of gold is planted in the upper eyelid to help the person close their eyes. The gold isotope, gold-198, is used in the treatment of cancer.
6. Treating Arthritis
Gold is even used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Providing pain relief through the reduction of swelling and stiffness, patients typically undergo around 22 weeks of injections utilizing gold salts before seeing results.
7. Aerospace
Gold plays a vital role in the aerospace industry. Acting as a filter to harmful UV rays from the sun, a thin layer of gold is applied to the visors of astronaut helmets as well as their suits. Space vehicles also leverage the properties of gold to stabilize core temperatures and reflect infrared radiation.
8. Electronics
The use of Gold in electronics is very common as it is a highly efficient conductor of electricity. The precious metal can effectively carry small voltages and remain corrosion-free. As a result, electronic components and devices that use gold are highly reliable. For these reasons, we use gold in connectors, connecting wires, and connection strips in electronic devices, among other things. All electronic devices have small traces of gold, even microwaves. As an efficient and reliable conductor, is often found in desktop and laptop computers to facilitate accurate transmission of digital data at remarkable speeds.
9. Food and Beverages
Extravagant dishes in fine dining restaurants and bars utilize golf leaf or shavings in their dishes or beverages. Gold is flavorless and cannot be digested by the human body, passing straight through, which makes it the ideal premium decoration.
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