14K
Purity of gold is measure from 1 to 24. 24 karat (24K) is purest form of the metal. So when you hear 14k gold, it means 14/24 karat which is 58.5% of gold and 41.5% alloy. More alloy, or lower karat in gold, gold becomes much more strong.
18K
As the same goes for 18k gold. Purity of gold is measure from 1 to 24. 24 karat (24K) is purest form of the metal. So when you hear 18k gold, it means 18/24 karat which is 75% of gold and 25% alloy. More alloy, or lower karat in gold, gold becomes much more strong.
In mineral community, precious metals are measured in ounces. But this ounce system is not the system of 16 ounces to a pound which we are familiar with. Gold is instead measure what ancient troy standard. This standard is also used in pharmacists and medical profession today. Here is an example of weight system.
Karat in most English speaking countries it spells 'carat' but in the U.S. carat is used to measure gem stone's weight such as 1 carat diamond. The word carat is from ancient time when it was used from carob plant which was used to measure weight of gemstones. Carob plant's seed was used for this process. One carob seed weighted about 200 milligrams.
Gold:
Gold, element Au, was one of the first known metals. The gold standard defines the world's currency system, whereby money represents a value in:
24 karat = 100% gold Too soft for jewelry
22 karat = 91.7% gold Very soft ????? not recommended for jewelry
18 karat = 75.0% gold Recommended for fine jewelry
14 karat = 58.3% gold Recommended for jewelry
12 karat = 50.0% gold Not acceptable for jewelry
10 karat = 41.7% gold
The legal karat limit considered as real gold in the United States
Gold won't tarnish, rust, or corrode, and though it's very strong, it is also the most malleable of all metals.
Purity
Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of every-day wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. Karatage, noted by a number followed by "k" indicates purity, or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. Karatage is expressed in 24ths, making 24k gold 100% gold.
Color
The color of gold is determined by two factors:
# The type of metal alloys included in it
# The percentage of each metal alloy
Yellow Gold
In jewelry at WeddingBands123, you'll find 18k and 14k yellow gold. 18k gold contains more precious metal than 14k gold. It is composed of 75% gold, which is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough to withstand every-day wear. Because 14k gold is composed of only 58.3% gold, and 41.7% other metals that give it strength, its gold color is not as rich as 18k gold. 14k gold is most commonly found in cases where strength is most important, like in earring backs and bracelet clasps.
White Gold
Because 18k white gold is 75% gold, and 14k white gold is 58.3% gold, jewelry made from these metals has a slight yellow color. To enhance the whiteness, almost all white gold is plated with rhodium, a shiny, white metal which is extremely hard. Depending on the amount of wear to a piece of jewelry, over time this rhodium plating may wear off, revealing the original metal color. Re-plating is a simple process that can be done to restore your jewelry's whiteness if needed.
Rose Gold
Rose gold gets its color from a larger proportion of copper in the metal alloy. This gives the gold a beautiful pink color.
Pricing
The price of gold jewelry is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or karat weight, as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewelry.
Care
Keep your gold jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. This will reduce daily abrasions and prolong gold's luster. To clean gold jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush (a dull tooth brush works well). Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or original boxes to protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.
