Here's a breakdown:
* Karats (K): A unit of measurement indicating the purity of gold. 24K gold is pure gold (99.9% or higher).
* Purity Requirement: To be considered "plum gold," the gold must meet a specific minimum purity level, ensuring a high gold content.
Key Characteristics of Plum Gold:
* High Gold Content: The most significant feature. It contains a very high percentage of pure gold.
* Softness: Due to its high purity, plum gold is very soft and malleable. This makes it less suitable for jewelry that requires high durability or intricate designs.
* Rich Color: It has a deep, rich yellow color due to the high gold content.
* Higher Value: Because of its higher gold content, it is more valuable than lower karat gold like 14K or 18K gold.
* Hallmarking: Typically, plum gold jewelry will be hallmarked with "23K" or "958" to indicate its purity.
* Common use: In India and Asia it is common for wedding jewelry or special pieces.
Why "Plum"?
The term "plum" is used as a mark of quality. It implies that the gold meets a certain standard of purity and excellence. It is not related to the color of a plum fruit.
In summary, plum gold signifies gold jewelry with a high level of purity (23K or 95.83% gold), prized for its richness, color, and value, but it is softer than gold alloys with lower karat values.