The Difference Between 14k, 18k & 24k Gold Jewelry

When purchasing gold, you might ask yourself "what's the difference between 14k, 18k & 24k gold and how do I know which one to buy?" Well, here's a breakdown that makes it easy to understand.

First thing's first, the "k" after each number stands for karat, not to be confused with the "c" found when describing diamond carats/ Karats (k) are used to measure the solid gold content of a gold alloy while carats (c) are used to measure the weight of diamonds. 14k gold contains 58% gold and 42% alloyed metals, 18k gold contains 75% gold and 25% alloyed metals and 24k gold is 100% pure gold. The more pure gold, the brighter the color and the softer the material.

24k Gold
While 24k gold may seem like the clear choice since it is 100% pure gold, the reason it it a less popular option is because of its bright yellow appearance, it's soft and easily bendable texture and its high price point. 24k gold is rarely used for for jewelry that you may wear everyday due to how easy it is to bend and scratch. 24k gold may be used for larger pieces that are only worn for certain occasions.

18k Gold
18k gold is commonly used for engagement rings ad wedding bands because of its rich, impressive color tone which complements diamonds perfectly. Brands like Cartier and Bvlgari use 18k gold for their famous love and serpenti collections in order to compliment the diamonds in their jewelry as well as uphold the luxurious feel of the brands.

14k Gold
The reason why 14k gold is the most commonly used gold for jewelry settings is the perfect balance of appearance, durability & affordability. 14k gold is a great material to use for jewelry that is worn everyday. 14k gold is not easily bendable, doesn't scratch as easily and has a more neutral tone compared to the bright yellow tone of 24 gold.

There are also other gold options such as 10k which is the lowest solid gold alloy percentage at 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy. 10k gold has a very pale yellow color and is the most durable of all of the golds mentioned above. The reason 10k gold is not used much is because of its low pure gold content.

All of our pieces are made out of solid 14k yellow or white gold. Solid 14k gold makes our pieces durable so they do not tarnish or fade which is perfect for everyday wear and makes our pieces last. At Amer, we want you to keep our pieces forever and pass them on to your future generations. The neutral tone of 14k gold also accentuates the beautiful tones in our gemstones and makes our diamonds sparkle.