Not all gold is created equal. In its pure form, gold is exceedingly soft and malleable. Its properties do not allow the created ring to stand up well to daily wear. To solve this problem, gold is alloyed with other metals to increase its strength and resistance, so that it can be a durable ring to wear as an engagement ring.
This is where both types of gold i.e. 14K and 18K come into picture. It is a good idea to learn about the essential differences between the two so that you can make the best choice for your needs.
Table of Contents
The difference in gold percentage
K stands for Karat (make sure not to be confused with carat, which is the weight measure for gemstones) and refers to the percentage of gold in an alloy. While most engagement rings come in 14K, but for certain engagement ring settings, it is also common to be in 18K gold. Below are the differences b/w them if you can’t decide which one to buy for a certain piece of jewelry.
To simply illustrate: 24K gold is 100% pure, 18K contains 75% gold and 25% alloyed metals, and 14K is 58% gold and 42% alloyed metals. Make sure to simply put, the 14-Karat and 18-Karat system makes it easier for the average person to determine the amount of pure gold in a piece.
How can you tell the difference with your gold ring on your own? The ring usually engraves the karat on an unconscious part of the ring, such as the inner band of rings.
Value and fashion considerations
Because of its greater percentage of gold, an 18-Karat piece will fetch a higher price than one of the 14-K gold. Moreover, in some cases, monetary value alone does not influence purchasing decisions. Others take a history, circumstance, or sentimental value into consideration, too. Some also consider the look of the gold, as the higher karat of the gold, the more yellow it appears.
18-Karat yellow gold has a high deeper yellow color than 14-karat, 14-karat white gold has a stronger white color than 18-karat, 14-karat rose gold is pinker than 18k, and so on. Sometimes 14k is the better complement to the desired gems for the piece or just has a more appealing look.
Durability and lifestyle considerations
Because of the higher percentage of alloyed metals, 14k gold offers more resistance to wear and tear. Thus, it is ideal for everyday use and is the most popular choice for engagement and wedding rings.
Those with active lifestyles should definitely consider getting 14k gold jewelry because it holds up better in manual labor, sports, and some other rigorous, regular activities.
18k gold ring is softer than 14k and is thus typically considered a special occasion piece. You can expect to see more of the 18k gold piece at social events or on red carpets.
Karat popularity
Karat desirability varies from region to region. In the US, 14-karat gold is more dominant in the ring industry. Meanwhile, 18-karat gold is more popular in Asia and Europe.
As with more things, there are some of the positives and negatives to the different gold karats. It is essential to know what you want out of a piece so that you can pick the karat that is right for you.
Most popular 14k white gold engagement ring:
The most popular style of 14k white gold ring is definitely the standard for four-prong solitaire, and six-prong solitaire settings. These solitaires are the most popular style of a 14k white gold ring. Moreover, it is unclear as to whether they are so popular because people prefer them above all other options, or whether they are popular simply because this is the ring widely recognized as being the traditional ring. These settings feature a four or six head with straight prongs with are die struck. They are mass-produced to accommodate a wide range of sizes.
Most popular 18k white gold engagement ring:
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most popular 18k white gold ring is the classic prong half-round solitaire. The first thing that you will notice about this set is that the head configuration features a bit of extra flair, which creates the illusion that the head is actually a six-prong crown. The ring shank tapers differently than the traditional six-prong solitaire. The classic knife-edge style solitaire features the same head configuration, set atop edge ring shank, which is not actually sharp like a knife. Rather than the outer edge of the ring shank comes to a slight point in a kind of shape, hence the same.
How much is 18k gold ring worth?
18K gold is a wide-spread and common gold alloy in America. A great majority of jewelry is made of 18 karat gold, especially high-value and high-grade jewelry, often from famous jewelers and goldsmiths. The price of pure gold fluctuates and can be seen on Monex.
Which is better when picking a gold ring 10k, 14k, or 18k?
Of the three most common gold purity levels, 10k is the most durable, though it also has the lowest gold content. 14k is slightly purer while also highly durable, while 18k gold is the form of gold that’s typically used for engagement rings and other jewellery.
Can 18k gold ring be magnetic?
Gold is a metal that will not attract a magnet. To test is 18k realgold, make sure to hold it next to a magnet. If the magnet sticks to your jewelry, then it does not have a high percentage of gold but is made up of other, more magnetic metals.
Also Read: How To Tell If A Ring Is a Real Gold?
