You want to buy a gift for someone very special. Maybe to mark a special occasion? Or just to say, “I love you.” What better than a beautiful piece of gold ring?
But the variety of gold rings is bewildering. What is the difference between all these karats? 14k, 18k, or 24k? So, many options are available so, which one is best? Well, continue on as in this post, we are going to share the difference between all three.
Table of Contents
What is 24 Karat Gold?
24 Karat gold ring is 99.9% pure gold. This is the most expensive. It is the purest type of gold. “Karat” is noted by an upper case. It is also acceptable to spell it “Carat.” When pure gold is mixed with other metals, then it becomes 14k, 18k, and some other Karats. The Karats depend on the other metals mixed with the liquid gold.
Where did the term Karat come from? Karat or Carat?
The term “karat” is used purely in North America. It refers to the purity of the gold. The purity or fitness of gold is measured in Karats. Karats range from 0 to 24(pure gold).
The word “Carat” is used in many other parts of the world. But it is a unit measurement for precious stones. “Carat” evolved in Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean. Merchants long ago used Carob seeds to weigh gold and gemstones. Each seed weighs around 200 mg. This is where the term “carat” comes from.
Carat becomes an international term used by Jewelers in the year 1907. But it means something very different in North America. “Karat” means “purity of gold.”
Why is pure gold not used?
24K gold is 99.9% pure gold. This sounds wonderful, but pure gold is very expensive. It is not a practical choice for making jewelry because pure gold is not a hard and resistant metal. Pure gold looks gorgeous. It is very easy for the jewelers to work with. But it is totally impractical for use to make jewelry. Pure gold cannot stand up to normal wear and tear. It is too soft; the ring could quickly deform and could even break.
So gold is usually mixed with some other metals. This makes it harder and more durable. Common metals include palladium, nickel, silver, and zinc. The amount mixed is how they get the different karat golds. The number of gold decreases. The number of other metals mixed with the gold increased. The strength of the gold improves, but the gorgeous color of the gold dulls too.
What is 18k gold?
18k gold is actually 75% pure gold, 18k gold is often marked with the stamp of 0.75. 18k gold is not as bright as purer gold. It has good strength. It is a popular choice for creating a beautiful ring. 18K gold ring is more durable and scratches less than that of pure gold.
The main way to tell 18K gold and 24K gold apart is by the color. The purer gold has a more intense color. 18K is a softer yellow but still has a deep golden tone. 18K gold can vary in color due to the other metals it is mixed with.
What is 14K gold?
14k gold is the most common gold. It is used for making jewelry, it is a hard and more durable gold. 14k gold is 58.33% pure gold with a mix of some other metals. Gold is a popular choice for jewelry.
If you properly research, then you will find that about 90% of the engagement and wedding rings are made out of 14k gold. This makes it the most widely used gold variant among others
It is strong and lasts long. It is only half pure gold. So it has a cheaper price tag. The color of 14K gold varies. The colors vary based on the metals mixed in. 14K gold can have a hint of rose and is used to make necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets.
Wrapping Up
So now the question arises, which one is better?
If you are buying Bullion gold for the sake of investment then you should go 24k gold. But, if you want it in the form of jewelry, then you should go for 18k gold, as it is more durable. Though 24k gold is purest, more yellowish but also very soft and vulnerable to deformation. So, 24k gold for jewelry is not a good choice.
Rest, it’s all up to you.
FAQs
Is 24k gold too soft to wear?
24k gold is too soft for the ring. Pure gold is very rarely used in jewelry because this metal is very soft. As a result of which, it can easily be scratched. Not only that – since gold is a malleable metal, anything made of 24k gold will bend easily.
Is 18k gold more expensive than 14k?
Due to more percentage of gold in 18k, it is more expensive than 14k.
Is 18k gold worth anything?
The value of Alloyed gold is measured on the basis of the amount of mixture of other metals with pure gold. More the other metals, lesser is the value of the alloyed gold. Since 18k gold contains 75% of pure gold, it is more valuable than 10k or 14k.
Also Read: How To Tell If A Ring Is a Real Gold?
