Will a 14kt. Gold chain (necklace) lose its weight?

[Archermike2605]

I have a 14kt. mens gold chain that I weighed about 6-8 years ago. It then weighed 451.5grains now it weighs 435.2 grains. Is it normal for a gold chain to lose some of it's gold with normal wear? Thats 16.3grs less now!! Would a chain lose 2.5grs per year under normal wear?

It's never been broken and I've only cleaned it once or twice since I first weigh it.

[coon007]

That seems like alot to me. Do you wear it daily?

[Archermike2605]

yes, I never take it off (maybe twice in the last 5-6 years.)

[buck_wild]

wears off, You should see my bosses' class ring. Down to the nub. The higher the K value the softer the gold

[bobbyn]

that means my wife had some low arse k value still looks new 35 years later

[coon007]

well 14K roughly being 56% gold the rest is silver, nickle and other metals. It cannot dissaper that fast unless you are really rough on it.

[EnglishRedneck]

Chemically, gold is inert, but the silver, nickel and brass content can oxidize away. Abrasion wears this oxidation away, resulting in weight loss. Seems like a lot, though, unless you work outside and sweat a lot!! Put it down to adding character to it rather than losing gold!

You could also think of the fact that since gold is worth more now than it was 5-6 years ago, it's probably kept it's value!!

[Keg]

I bought a heavy 14K chain and cross while on vacation at the Cayman Isles.......
Wore it every day for 6 years........The chain wore so thin that it broke in two places.....

[rzrbak]

Seems excessive to me for such a short time....

[cj7zrcool]

I bought a heavy 14K chain and cross while on vacation at the Cayman Isles.......
Wore it every day for 6 years........The chain wore so thin that it broke in two places.....

A long time ago I had a necklace that I wore everyday for many years, some of the links were nearly worn through in several places, just from the friction of movement I'd guess.

[Bill]

I was an analytical chemist for 5 years, and did a lot of very precise weight measurements (0.001 gram type) with balances. I would 1st suspect that the measurements were made on either different scales, or if the same, the measurement had some difference over time. If it's an electronic scale, they use a strain-gauge type of sensor to read out to the electronics, and they can vary and change over time.

The 18 carat soft gold rings do wear off with time, but I would not think a 12 or 14 carat gold chain would.

That's my guess.

[SOLID EAGLE]

X2 on the scale difference. 16.3 grains is not that much. It all depends on who weighed it, on what scale and how accurate it was.

[crittergitter]

when i had a gold chain i never noticed any wear.

i lost that chain several years ago. i left it in my members only jacket when i donated it to the salvation army back in 1989.

[bowhuntntxn]

I have been wearing the same gold chain since 85 and cant tell if it is losing weight, but it is not wearing away. must be some more of that low k stuff!!