.png){kind=logo}
.png){kind=small}
18K Gold
You might have heard of 18k gold in wearable gold jewellery. What exactly is 18k gold, gold karats and what is the difference with pure gold? Let us walk you through.
What are
Gold Karats?
A gold karat is a measure unit of how much of the precious metal is contained in a piece. Gold is made up of 24 parts, so 24 karat gold refers to 100% purity. Whilst 18 karat gold is made of 75% gold content (18 divided by 24) and 25% alloys of metals such as zinc, copper, nickel, etc… Different karats have their own uses and benefits, where the lower karats are actually more durable than pure gold itself.
24 Karat Gold vs
18 Karat Gold vs
14 Karat Gold
24 Karat Gold - 24 Karat gold means it’s pure gold, it is extremely soft and so would not hold its shape for very long when worn daily.
​
18 Karat Gold - 18 Karat gold has some distinct advantages, to make it into jewellery will be far more durable, ideal for items to wear everyday. Since it is purer, it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction in people sensitive to certain minerals.
14 Karat Gold - The lower the karat the lower the gold content, and with this comes more differences. Although it is harder and more durable, it offers a paler tone than its 18 karat gold counterpart.
What Can
18 Karat Gold Be Used for?
18 karat gold is often used to craft high quality gold jewellery, because of its high level of purity, and it’s more unlikely to cause irritation to the skin compared to other lower karat types. From gold rings to gold necklaces, a lot of jewellers would mark their 18 karat piece with a small “18k” or “18kt” stamp, making it easier to identify.
The Different Colors of Gold
There are a number of shades 18 karat gold can take, the color can be dependent on the metal alloys that make up the 25% (6 karat besides the 18 karat). For instance, 18 karat rose gold jewellery will have a higher amount of copper in than of other metals - giving the gold that rosy glow. Whilst the 25% of white gold jewellery will be made largely of silver or platinum.