Differences Between 10k vs 14k vs 18k Gold: Which Should You Buy

When you are shopping for fine jewelry or engagement rings, you will often come across the terms 10k gold, 14k gold, 18k gold or even 24k gold.

So, what do they mean and why should it matter to you?

Karat is a term used to describe the purity content of gold in a piece of jewelry. 

In the industry, the following gold karat chart is universally used and understood. It represents the fineness of precious metal content (expressed in parts-per-thousand).

Pure gold which is 24K is very malleable and soft. For this reason, it is unsuitable for jewelry making, as it could be deformed when using daily.

The solution to making long lasting gold jewelry is to alloy it with other metals like silver, zinc, nickel to increase hardness, copper to change its color. The percentage of alloying metals is reflected by the karat level and the most popular grades used are: 14k and 18k.

24 Karat Gold – 24K

Pure gold (100%), is sometimes referred to as 24 karat or 24k. 

It is free from other impurities and is a highly valued metal. This is the pure state of gold found in nature, even though 24k gold doesn’t degrade or tarnish, it is very soft and malleable. 

As a result, it is unsuitable for usage in many jewelry applications. After all, you don’t want to see an expensive diamond ring deform or severely scratched after wearing it only a couple of times.

Nevertheless, In China jewelers have been using 24K to forged it for special events such as traditional Chinese wedding jewelry, which contribute the 40% of their total sales in the country. Listing necklaces as the most sold item. Also, collectible gold bars that are very popular in the Asian markets are made of 24K.

18 Karat – 18K Gold

18 karat gold (18k gold) gold consists of 75% gold and 25% alloy. In its raw form, 18k gold has a richer yellow tone compared to 14k due to the higher gold content. Although 18k gold is relatively softer than 14k gold, it is suitable for use in jewelry.

One advantage of choosing 18k gold is its purity, which gives 18k gold a richer, more vibrant color. The 18k gold is also less likely to trigger any skin conditions or reactions one may have because the presence of other metals and alloys is minimal. If you are prone to metal allergies, 18k gold is a great option for you! 

14 Karat – 14K Gold

14 karat gold (14k gold) consists of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy. In essence, the chemical composition is made up of 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. It is hardy and able to withstand moderate abuse during wear. This is the most used karatage within the US because its more affordable and the piece it’s made of at least 58% gold, for this reason the hardness of the piece will be better for items like a wedding ring which its used daily. 

10 Karat Gold- 10k

10 karat (10K) gold consists of 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy. 

Because of the higher composition of alloys, 10k yellow gold jewelry is more susceptible to tarnishing compared to higher karat grades. This is one of the reasons why jewelers with stricter quality standards won’t use 10 karat gold or lower grades. As 10mK gold jewelry contains less than 50% of gold.

In terms of pricing, the discount you get with 10k gold is minimal when compared to 14k gold. However, the overall quality of the piece does take a significant hit when you go to lower karat grades.

What’s the Best Type of Gold to Buy?

The differences between 10k vs 14k vs 18k are very hard to see with the naked eye and most people simply can’t tell them apart. Ultimately, the best type of gold to buy boils down to your personal needs and preferences.

The main difference between 18k vs 14k yellow gold is in price. In terms of physical appearance, 18kt yellow gold may appear with a more saturated hue compared to 14kt yellow gold. Also, it is more expensive because there is more gold in the piece of jewelry (75% gold and 25% alloy) compared to 14K gold (58% gold and 41% alloy). As all fine jewelry are made out of 18k gold, it is the preferred type of gold to go with the best brightness and value in time.

Here at Anam Karat, we offer personalized customer service to help you choose the best piece of jewelry for your needs. We provide a lifetime guarantee on all our 18k Solid Gold pieces and an appraisal certificate for our natural diamonds and the best natural emerald jewelry. Also, as a courtesy, we offer FREE insured shipping which includes adult signatures required to make sure your new piece of jewelry arrives safely at your hands.