The answer to the question, can gold tarnish is an unequivocal no. This means if your gold coins, gold bars or gold jewelry are made of pure gold, these items will never change color or show any signs of discoloration. Pure gold is known as 24 karat gold. 24 karat gold will be softer than the other forms of gold with lower karat ratings. Pure gold because of it softness is usually alloyed with other metals to increase the hardness of the gold. All reputable gold bars are made of pure gold. Some gold bullion coins like the South African Krugerrand and the American Gold Eagle are made of 22 karat gold.

The lower karat ratings of gold, because of the mixture of other metals can show some signs of discoloration. The discoloration is due to the other metals mixed in and not the gold. In most places on earth, gold alloys that are 18 karat or higher usually do not tend to tarnish. In India in some rare cases, gold alloys that are as high as 22 karat are known to show some signs of discoloration. It is recommended if you live in a place that has some rare cases of high gold karat showing signs of discoloration; that you only invest or buy physical gold items that are 24 karat.

Pure Gold because of its ability to never tarnish is one of the best ways to invest or buy gold. If you are not sure if you live in one of the places on earth where higher karat of gold show signs of discoloration, you can ask other investors or jewelry stores. Also you can limit yourself to only investing or buying 24 karat gold. In most cases gold that’s 18 karat or more will tend not to tarnish, but the only form of gold guaranteed never to tarnish is 24 karat; in other words pure gold.