It goes without saying that gold is the main material used by jewelry professionals, which also means that it is the most popular and beloved among consumers. Therefore, we offer you to familiarize yourself with useful information about the gold jewelry that many of us love and cherish so much.
What is the difference between 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K gold jewelry?
First of all, the letter “K” you see next to the number stands for karat, which indicates the percentage of pure gold in the metal alloy. Pure gold is very soft, so jewelers mix it with other metals to make it more durable and harder. For this reason, 24-karat gold is extremely rarely used in jewelry because it is too soft.
So, the higher the karat number, the higher the proportion of pure gold in your jewelry:
- 10K = 41.7%
- 14K = 58.5%
- 18K = 75%
- 22K = 91.7%
- 24K = 100%
In addition, the higher the karat number, the higher the price, that is, the price is determined by the percentage of pure gold. As for the color, since the natural color of pure gold is yellow, the more karats, the more yellow the jewelry made from it will be. It should also be remembered that the more karats, the more scratch-resistant the alloy will be.
Abbreviations "KT" and "CT"
The abbreviations "KT" or "CT" are used for carats. carat ), but "CT" is more commonly used when referring to gemstones. A carat is a unit of measurement for the purity of a metal. In the case of gold, 24 karat means it is the purest form of gold. A carat is equal to 200 mg or 0.2 g.
What is the natural color of gold?
There are many different colors of gold jewelry on the market today, but what is the true color of pure gold? Your first guess would probably be correct - the color of pure gold is yellow. Since you already know what gold karats are, from now on you will also know that the higher the karat number of a gold jewelry, the more yellow the jewelry will be. Despite such a wide range of gold colors, yellow gold is not inferior to others in its popularity - especially when it comes to gold wedding rings .
Rose gold
Rose gold is an alloy of pure gold mixed with copper, which gives the gold a pinkish hue. Today engagement and wedding rings made of rose gold are a very popular choice among future newlyweds.
White gold
White gold is also an alloy that mixes pure gold with nickel and zinc. The lower the karat, the “whiter” the color will be. White gold is often chosen by people who like platinum but want a cheaper and lighter alternative.
Is gold jewelry hypoallergenic?
There is no one-word answer to this question. For example, if a gold piece of jewelry is not made of pure 24-karat gold, it is an alloy that has most likely been mixed with nickel to make it stronger and more durable, and nickel is a potential allergen. However, if you love white gold jewelry but know that you are allergic to it, you can choose the hypoallergenic metal titanium as an alternative. It will not cause allergies, and it will also be a cheaper alternative. Meanwhile, if you really like traditional yellow gold and metals do not cause you allergic reactions, you can choose a gold piece of jewelry with a higher karat number.
So, if you love gold jewelry, we hope this information will be helpful to you in choosing jewelry that can match your unique taste and style.