In many cultures, one of the most desired substances in existence is the precious metal, gold. Measured in karats, its monetary worth depends on its purity level. The percentage of how much of the metal is actually gold rations how pure it is.
As one of the most flexible metals there is, it has several uses, and can be fashioned and sold in a number of ways. The hindrance to this is that it inevitably loses its shape if it has nothing to support it.
However, this means that lower karat gold is more durable, despite being less valuable. One of the most common ways to use the metal is by making it into jewellery. Its bright, shiny qualities lend themselves well to adornment, as well as the fact that it does not tarnish. In fact, it holds a good deal of romance as it is frequently used for wedding rings. 24 karat is the most expensive, but lower karat jewellery is often worn as a cheaper alternative. However, there are people who find this metal to be rather ostentatious and generally prefer other precious metals such as silver. This said, there are many uses of it being alloyed with other substances.
Of course, the most famous use of this precious metal is as currency, which began as bullion, also known as bars, and later fashioned into coins. However, such coins are rare today and are not used in common circulation. Although some choose to collect archaic coins as an investment. This metal is also well known for being the material that first place medals are made of, helping to cement its connection to success.
In addition to this, it is also a popular material for award ceremony statues as well as royal crowns. With this in mind, it could be said that the use of gold to represent prestige almost propagates its being used to symbolise that in the first place.
As it is easy to squash flat, it is commonly used in architecture as gilding or gold leaf on the front of buildings. Like all its previously mentioned uses, it is used on high-status buildings such as palaces or houses of parliament or some churches and cathedrals.
Because of its nature of being less likely to be allergenic, as well as its reliability not to react with other materials, the substance is also used in dentistry and medical procedures. Within dentistry in particular, it is valued by some to be a visually attractive material for fillings.
The downside to gold is that it is so rare, which justifies its connection with affluence and currency, since something in short supply will inevitably be quite an elite commodity. Because of this, it will not be used for anything non-aesthetic if a cheaper metal will suffice. It really is due to its versatility as a substance that the it is in such high demand outside of affluent circles.
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