Purity Of Gold: Difference Between 24k 22k And 18k Gold
What Alloys Are In Gold
It depends. The metal alloys used in gold can vary, and can be used to create different properties, such as color or strength. For example, there is no such thing as white gold, but is instead regular yellow gold mixed with alloys to take on a whiter color.
When you see rose gold or greenish gold, these golds were made by including various alloys with pure gold to make the desired color.
What Are The Different Types Of Karat
18 karat 18 karat gold is 75% gold and 25% alloyed metals. It is one of the most traditional mixes of gold and other metals and tends to have a deeper yellow tone than 14K.
While this ratio of pure gold to alloyed metal is good and increases its value, it decreases its practicality in relation to other karats. An 18 karat necklace is more likely to get damaged and will be more susceptible to chemicals such as perfume.
14 karat A 14 karat gold is 58% gold and 42% alloyed metals. It is the second most popular choice for necklaces and other jewellery because it is a little harder wearing than the 18K.
Its ideal for everyday use and is the most popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. If you have an active lifestyle, 14K jewellery would be the best option for you.
12 karat and below The lower the karat of gold, the more it is mixed with nickel or other alloyed metals. It is due to this mixing of alloys that necklaces made of 12-9 karat gold, are actually far stronger, and therefore more durable, than softer 18 karat gold necklaces. It is for this reason that in the UK, a 9 karat necklace is one of the most popular.
Also Check: What Is Tb Gold Test
Which Karat Of Gold Is The Best
The purity of gold is measured on a scale of 24 karats, with 24 karats signifying pure gold. So when you see jewelry thats described as 24-karat gold, youre buying a piece of jewelry made of pure gold.
In the United States, the most common purity measures of commercially sold jewelry range from 10 karats, to 14 karats, to 18 karats. Youll see differences in the purity of popular gold pieces manufactured and sold overseas. For example, 18-karat gold pieces are common in Europe, while 22-karat or 24-karat jewelry is common throughout Asia.
But while these purities are common, that does not necessarily mean they are the best.
Weve found 14-karat gold to be one of the most popular choices in our store. Its generally an all-purpose, durable gold and the most economical choice. Additionally, white gold is more desired for jewelry construction than yellow gold because the alloys in white gold make the gold stronger. This is useful when it comes to items that need to be held securely, such as the prongs that hold a diamond on a ring.
When making gold jewelry, many designers tend to use 18-karat gold to differentiate themselves. This is very common among jewelers from Europe, whereas jewelers in the United States more commonly use 14-karat gold.
What Is A Karat
A karat is a measurement of the fineness of a piece of gold. The fineness of a piece represents theweight of fine metal that it contains in proportion to the total weight, including alloyed metals andany impurities. Diamonds and other gemstones are measured in carats per 200mg, meaning forevery 200mg of diamond, the higher the carat.
Gold uses karats. With gold, a karat is a fractional measure of purity for gold alloys, measured per 24parts whole. Pure gold that has not been mixed with any other metals is therefore the highestpossible karat, 24 karat gold.
Whilst more valuable, pure gold is rarely used for jewelry pieces because of its softness andmalleability, and tendency to scratch and mark. Therefore, it is usually alloyed with base metals foruse in jewelry, altering its malleability, color and other properties.
Read Also: Where To Sell Gold Bars
What Is 24 Karat Gold
24 Karat gold is 99.9% pure gold. This is the most expensive. It is the purest type of gold. Karat is noted by an upper case K. Its also acceptable to spell it Carat. When pure gold is mixed with other metals it becomes 14K, 18K and other Karats. The Karats depend on the other metals mixed with the liquid gold.
We Describe The Types Of Karats Of Gold And Which One Is The Best
When it comes to jewelry, the term karat gets thrown around a fair amount. While we take this term for granted, many customers arent sure what the term really means, or whats ideal.
Fortunately, when the details are laid out and communicated, its easier than youd think to find the best karat for your jewelry. Unlike other jewelers, we at Braunschweiger know that theres no perfect karat count for every piece it can depend on variables including durability, price, and more.
You May Like: How To Identify Real Gold
Why This Karat Gold Is Best For The Necklace
14k gold is the most popular gold alloy used not just in making necklaces but also for earrings, rings, bracelets, etc. The reason for this is that 14k gold is quite versatile and allows for all kinds of designs and styles of gold jewelry. This stems from the high degree of durability of 14k gold, a quality that results from the alloying of pure gold with stronger and more durable metals like copper, zinc, palladium, silver, and in other cases, nickel. You can read a detailed post reading this post!
Essentially, 14k gold contains 14 parts of pure gold out of 24 parts . To create this alloy of durable gold, 58.3% pure gold is mixed with 41.7% metal alloys. The metal alloys added to pure gold are quite durable and strong, features which are transferred to the resultant 14k gold alloy. These metal alloys added also result in the three main types of gold alloys rose gold, yellow gold, and white gold. 14k gold is also significantly cheaper than 18k gold, and this competitive pricing of 14k gold enhances its desirability across the jewelry world.
Theres just one caveat wed like to bring to your attention the fact that 14k gold might have nickel present. The nickel content in some types of 14k gold is a little too much for people with sensitive skin and metal allergies, and since a bigger percentage of alloys is needed in the creation of 14k gold 41.7% rather than 25% in 18k gold, there is a high risk of allergies around 14k gold necklace.
What Karat Gold Is Best For You
Ultimately, the best karat count is the one that will best meet your needs. Whether youre shopping for look, price, or durability, theres a variety of options when it comes to gold.
To learn more about selecting the right type of karat for your jewelry, feel free to visit either of our New Jersey jewelry store locations in Morristown or New Providence to see for yourself and talk to any of our expert jewelers.
If youd like to talk to someone directly about the different types of karats and whats right for you, you can contact us online anytime by emailing us directly at , or simply fill out our contact formand well answer your questions quickly.
You May Like: Does Gld Sell Real Gold
Should I Choose 24k Gold For Fine Jewelry
Although prestigious and beautiful, 24k gold is not a recommended choice for engagement rings, wedding bands, or any other fine jewelry you tend to wear daily.
If youre looking for a setting made of gold, many people purchase 14k gold. Not only is 14k gold more affordable than 24k gold, but it is also more resistant to daily wear and tear and has a greater lifetime value for your money.
You can choose a variety of colors such as white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold. Platinum is also a great precious metal for engagement rings and wedding bands. It is silver-ish in color and much more durable than gold. Platinum will sell for higher prices than gold, though.
Clean Origins collection of lab grown diamonds and fine jewelry have exceptional craftsmanship. If youre searching for any type of jewelry, browse styles in demand on our website. We offer free delivery on every order and can ship straight to your home.
Pros And Cons Of 10 Karat Gold
10 karats is the likely lowest amount of purity that defines gold in the United States. 10K gold has less than half the composition of gold and about 58% is composed of silver and copper. As expected, it is the least costly but probably the most durable tier of gold purity.
Though its price point is inviting, 10K gold is not so common among jewelers. Shops like James Allen prefer starting their inventories from 14K gold pieces. This is because 10K gold is relatively dull and not sellable. People love the bling factor in jewelry and 10k gold pieces dont make the cut in terms of gold color.
But, that shouldnt stop you from buying this piece. 10K gold is known to be the hardest gold alloy, and resistant to scuffs and scratches. The one setback with 10K gold has to be its irritability with hypoallergenic people. If youre allergic to zinc, copper, iron, or silver, you may experience skin irritation after a long period of time.
Recommended Reading: 14k White Gold Chain Mens
Karat Gold Understanding Gold Purity
When searching for gold jewelry we have all come across karats used to describe the quality of a piece. Most of us know that the higher the karat, the more expensive it will be. But what actually is akarat? What do the numbers all mean? What are the stamps on a gold piece?
Here is guide to understanding karats and their meaning.
How Do You Pick A Carat Size
If your hands are smaller than a 6.5 ring size you might want to consider a 1.0 carat or a stone that is under 1.50 carats. However, if your hands are larger than a 6.5 ring size you can go with something larger, like a 1.50-2.0 carat. Keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear.
Read Also: How To Get Gold Fast In Wow
K 14k 18k Or More: Whats The Best Gold To Buy
Ask any jeweler in Massachusetts which is the best gold to buy and youll learn that its not an easy answer. In addition to the different colors of gold, gold can come in multiple different karats. 24 Karat pure gold is The Gold Standard, but does that make it better? Is 14 Karat gold better than 10 Karat, but not as good as 18 Karat? With the exception of gold-filled or gold-plated pieces, the answer is both yes, and no.
Lets start with 24K or pure gold. This is what is traded on the commodities market and is featured in those gold bars you see in movies and pictures of Fort Knox. Stockpiling gold is also one way many countries store their wealth and often even pay their debts. Any jeweler in Massachusetts knows how unusual it is to find jewelry made out of 24K gold. This is because 24 Karat gold is a soft metal and tends to bend or scratch easily, making it impractical for the wear-and-tear jewelry can receive. Some countries such as Asia, Africa and South America do, in fact, make jewelry out of 24K pure gold, but it is rare. Pure 24K gold jewelry has a very distinct, deep yellow tone that makes it look different from other types of gold jewelry.
Elaborating on this topic in more detail, Empire Loans CEO Mike Goldstein answers some frequently asked questions about gold in the video below.
What Type Of Karat Is My Gold
Each piece of jewelry is stamped with the karat designation somewhere on the piece. For jewelry pieces, you probably will need a magnifying glass to find a two-digit number with a k or kt after it. If you dont see a two-digit number but a three-digit number instead, place a decimal point in front of the numbers and youll have the percentage.
- .585, .583, or .575 = 14k
If neither of these options is available to you, Bellatory recommends other tests that you can do to determine the purity of gold.
Read Also: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100 Whey Protein Powder
What’s The Difference Between 10k 14k 18k And 24k Gold
When choosing a piece of jewelry, not only do you need to consider the quality of the diamond or gemstone but also the precious metal that makes up the setting or band. One of the most common metals used for jewelry is gold in either 10k, 14k, 18k, or 24k variants. If you’re in the market for a new piece of jewelry, it’s helpful to learn a bit about the differences between these types of gold to ensure you make the best decision for your lifestyle and budget.
What Karat Gold Is Best For Rings
When you are shopping for gold jewelry, perhaps a wedding band for your fiancée, the higher the karat the better, right? Not necessarily. Its true that 24K gold is the pure choice, and must actually contain 99.95% gold.
But there are drawbacks with pure gold, namely that gold is a soft metal. For that reason, you might want to consider 18K or even 14K gold for your fiancés ring. 18K gold is eighteen twenty fourths gold, which comes out to 75%. 14K gold is around 58% pure, with alloy metals making up the remaining 42%.
How is karat gold made? Jewelers melt gold together with other types of metal to create an alloy. A number of different types of metal can be used to create the alloy. Silver and copper can be used to create yellow gold, a popular traditional color for engagement rings and wedding rings.
Then there is white gold, which is often created by adding nickel .
Palladium is another metal which can be used to create white gold. Rose gold is created in a similar manner to yellow gold, but with a higher percentage of copper.
Anything ranging between 20-24K is considered relatively pure. Gold rings in this range tend to be very soft. Their colors are deep, and they are certainly considered very precious. High karats like these are the standard in certain parts of the world, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, where they are considered traditional.
Don’t Miss: What’s The Value Of An Ounce Of Gold
What Is 22k/ 18k/ 14k In Gold
Now, how pure is this 22K gold? Lets do a simple mathematical calculation:
24K gold = 100% Pure Gold
Thus, 1K Gold = = 4.167% Pure Gold
Thus, 22K Gold = = 91.67% Pure Gold
Lets talk about 22k Gold Purity and other factors. Out of the 100%, only 91.67% is pure gold in 22K gold. So, what does the other 8.33% consist of? These consist of metals like Silver, Zinc, Nickel and other alloys just as we explained earlier. The addition of these metals make the overall mixture a little harder and thus helps in making the jewellery more durable. This 22K gold is still not hard enough. Though it can be used for plain gold jewellery, it is not strong enough to hold diamonds & gemstones in studded jewellery . And thus, generally studded jewellery is manufactured in 18K or lower, like 14K, 10K, 9K, etc. Based on the calculations already explained above,
18K Gold = = 75% Pure Gold
14K Gold = = 58.33% Pure Gold
10K Gold = = 41.67% Pure Gold
Are we making sense yet? We certainly hope we are. Carrying on, there are two things to be understood here First, the hardness of the metal keeps increasing as the percentage of gold in the metal compositions goes down. Second and one of the other important aspects which we havent yet discussed, the colour of this metal composition starts getting duller. It must also be understood that purity can sometimes be mentioned as a combination of 3 numerals. For example
24K = 99.9% Pure = 999
14K = 58.3% Pure = 585& so on
Infographic on Gold Karat & Purity
Caring For Your White Gold Jewelry
It is important to note that Rhodium-plate will wear off over time revealing the true color of the white gold beneath. How long will this process take? That depends on how often you wear the jewelry, and how hard you wear it! The good news is that Rhodium-plating can be done by your local jeweler, and it is relatively inexpensive. To keep your white gold jewelry shining bright, we recommend that you have your piece Rodium-plated annually.
Don’t Miss: Humana Gold Plus Provider Search
