Buying jewelry is gold no matter the Karat type is a valuable investment. The various types of gold are 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K for jewelry. These numbers represent the actual purity level of the gold which is determined by the karat (K). Before making any purchase as well as knowing the 4C’s it is important to know what the difference between 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K gold jewelry is.
Gold has been around for thousands of years measuring the wealth of an individual and the authority of power since man first became attracted to it. Gold appears on the scientific periodic table as AU and is a metallic yellow in color. Pure gold is a very soft and flexible metal compared to the other scientific elements on the periodic table.
Gold is a very strong metal that has lasted the test of time which is why it is so commonly used in beautiful diamond jewelry pieces. But due to its softness gold is often alloyed together with other metals to make it more durable. These metals that gold is alloyed together with inclue, nickel, zinc, copper and silver. As mixing any two substances together when mixing the gold together with its alloy it will change the actual color of the gold as well as its durability.
24K gold
24K gold is the softest and is gold in its most purest form. The actual amount of how pure the gold is assigned to the letter K which represents how many parts of gold is it out of 24.
18K gold
18K gold is 18 parts out of pure 24K gold and the remaining 25% is what it would be alloyed with. The more alloy there is in the metal the lower karat value of the gold. 18K gold is used when you want to obtain a nice yellow color for a certain piece of jewelry. 18K is not as strong as the other types of gold but this has not made it a less valuable choice for your jewelry.
14K gold
14K gold is probably the most commonly purchased gold. It is the most reasonably priced and is very durable. 14K is a great choice when selecting wedding bands.
10K gold
10K gold contains a high percentage of allow and makes it the least expensive of the available gold karat types. 10K is great for a gold chain or a pair of earrings.
Before you make any purchase of diamonds or diamond jewelry it is important to know the 4C’s and the difference between 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K gold. This will save you money in the long run and won’t allow you to get ripped off by the local jewelry who is just trying to turn a quick dollar. There are many places to shop for gold as well as online. Online stores offer unbeatable prices and can customize anything you need. Be sure the company is a reputable one and that you will receive all the proper certificates and appraisals for your purchase.
