The Difference Between 10k, 14k, 18k, 21k, 22k, And 24k Gold
The letter "K" stands for karat, which refers to the percentage of pure gold in a piece of jewelry. The highest purity available is 24K, which means that it is 100 percent pure gold.
The amount of karats is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing fine gold jewelry. The higher the karats, the purer the gold, which in turn means the more expensive the jewelry piece. Unfortunately, 24k pure gold is an extremely fragile and malleable metal. It bends and breaks very easily, so it's not fit for the wear and tear of everyday use. That is why, almost all jewelers will mix in other metals to ensure the durability of their pieces. When other metals are mixed in, the purity of the gold decreases. The lower the karat value of a gold piece, the higher the percentage of metal alloys.
The way to calculate the percentage of alloys in a gold piece is to divide its karat value by 24. If you buy 18K gold jewelry, for example, divide 18 by 24. The answer is 0.75, or 75%. This signifies that an 18K gold jewelry piece is made up of 75% pure gold and 25% of other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, etc.
What is the best karat value for everyday jewelry?
If you're on the market for investment-worthy yet wearable real gold jewelry, we suggest shopping within the 10-18k range. All of the Monaco Chain™ pieces on Oro Monaco are available in 10k yellow gold or 14k yellow gold options. These options ensure that you get the luxury and shine of pure gold, without sacrificing strength.
Start investing in your jewelry collection now, or check out this article to check out the best jewelry for men.
