When it comes to our jewellery, we only use solid gold, platinum and other metals, because we want to make jewellery that lasts a lifetime. We do not make gold plated jewellery - you can learn about this in our next blog post. It's therefore important to understand the properties of solid gold jewellery.
Solid gold jewellery, as the name suggests, is made entirely from one material and contains a significant amount of pure gold depending on the karat amount used. Karats is the purity of the solid gold used, with 24kt being the purest form. However, due to its softness, solid gold jewellery is often alloyed with other metals to increase its strength and durability. Common alloys include copper, silver, and zinc.
The key differences between common different gold karats in jewellery are as follows:
24kt Gold: This is the highest karats available in gold and is considered "pure gold", containing 99.9% gold with minimal alloy metals. While 24K gold is highly prized for its rich, yellow colour and lustre, its softness makes it less practical for everyday jewellery that is subject to being misshapen and bent out of shape.
18kt Gold: With a gold purity of 75%, 18kt gold is a popular choice for high-end, fine jewellery (this is our preferred choice of gold). It strikes a balance between purity and durability, offering a luxurious appearance whilst being more resistant to scratching and bending than 24kt gold.
14kt Gold: This karatage is a common choice for engagement rings, wedding bands, and everyday jewelry. 14kt gold contains 58.3% gold and is alloyed with a higher percentage of other metals, making it more durable and affordable compared to higher karat gold, but can lack the bright gold colour.
9kt Gold: At 37.5% gold purity, 9kt gold contains the lowest gold content among the most commonly used karatages. While it is the most durable due to its higher alloy content, it has lighter colour and a lower gold value compared to higher karat gold.
In conclusion, the differences in gold karats is reflected in the colour, hardness, and price of the jewellery. Higher karat gold tends to have a richer, deeper colour due to its higher gold content, while lower karat gold may have a slightly lighter hue due to the presence of alloy metals such as copper or silver. We prefer using 18kt gold in our jewellery to get the right mix between luxury and durability. If, however, you would like to create jewellery using a different karatage, we would be more than happy to help.
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