Versatile and highly prized, gold is one of the most commonly used metals in engagement rings, wedding bands, and other fine jewelry. It is renowned for its shine, durability, and timeless appeal.
Gold Karats Meaning:
Gold karats are a measurement of gold purity. Because gold is naturally a softer metal, it is often mixed with other metals, creating gold alloy. Karats tell us how much of a piece of gold is pure gold, and how much consists of other metals. It’s measured out of 24 total parts.
- 24K Gold: The purest form of gold. 24 out of 24 parts are gold. While it’s certainly the height of luxury, 24K gold is not commonly used in jewelry because of its softness. It is easier to scratch or damage 24K gold than gold alloys. May also be marked as 999.
- 22K Gold: 22K gold is over 91% gold, or 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metals. Because it is so close to pure gold, but still stronger, jewelers often use 22K gold for their most luxurious pieces. It offers a good balance between purity and durability. May also be marked as 916 or 917.
- 18K Gold: A popular choice for fine jewelry, 18K gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals, or 75% gold. Many famous jewelry designers use 18K gold–it’s much stronger than pure gold, while still being composed mostly of gold. May also be marked as 750.
- 14K Gold: A durable and more affordable choice, 14K gold is 58.3% gold. So while it is still made mostly of gold, it boasts more strength than 18k gold, and is also more budget-friendly. May also be marked as 583 or 585.
- 10K Gold: This is the most durable and relatively inexpensive option for gold shoppers. 10K gold is 41.7% pure gold, and demonstrates remarkable resistance to wear and tear. May also be marked as 417.
A number of different metals may be used in gold alloy. The color of gold can change depending on the metals used.
- Yellow Gold:Created by alloying gold with a balance of silver or zinc and copper, which balances white tones and warm tones to keep the gold yellow.
- Rose Gold: Created by alloying gold with copper to create romantic blush tones. Rose gold has been especially popular in recent decades.
- White Gold: Created by alloying gold with white metals such as platinum or silver. It may be rhodium plated to enhance its brightness and durability, and make it more resistant to tarnish.
Gold Plated
Gold plated jewelry features a base metal like sterling silver wrapped in a gold plating. It’s a way to get the appearance of gold, but at a lower price. It is not as long-lasting as regular gold jewelry, but when cared for, it can last a long time. Gold plated jewelry may also bear additional markings that tell you a little more about the type of gold plating used on the piece.
- GP: Gold plating
- RGP: Rolled gold plating
- HGE: Heavy gold electroplating
- HGP: Heavy gold plating
- GEP: Gold electroplating
Gold Filled
Gold filled jewelry consists of a base metal interior and gold outer shell, with a higher gold content compared to gold plated jewelry. Gold filled pieces are stamped with the marking GF. They may also show a fraction indicating the gold content of the piece. For example, a stamp reading 1/20 14K GF means that 1/20th (or 5%) of the piece is 14K gold.
