Gold
Understanding Gold Quality and Types
Gold Characteristics
Gold is one of the most precious and versatile metals used in jewelry making, prized for its beauty, durability, and malleability.
Pure gold is actually very soft - too soft to be used in jewelry on its own, so it is usually combined with other metals, or alloys, to make it stronger and harder-wearing. Typical alloys include copper, zinc and nickel.
Key Properties
- ✨ Never tarnishes
- 🛠️ Highly malleable
- ♾️ Infinitely recyclable
- 🎨 Various color options
Gold Karat Guide
The karat (K) measurement indicates the proportion of pure gold in a piece of jewelry. The higher the karat number, the more pure gold content.
24K Gold
100% Pure Gold
- Highest purity level
- Rich yellow color
- Too soft for most jewelry
- Used mainly for investment
18K Gold
75% Pure Gold
- Excellent quality
- Strong & durable
- Intense color
- Ideal for fine jewelry
14K Gold
58.3% Pure Gold
- Very durable
- More affordable
- Slightly muted color
- Popular for everyday wear
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold is available in different tones, with the exact hue depending on the type and percentage of metal alloys used. Pure gold has a rich, lustrous yellow color. While 18K gold maintains an intense yellow tone, 14K gold may appear slightly muted due to the higher percentage of metal alloys.
White Gold
White gold is created by alloying yellow gold with white metals such as palladium or nickel. The natural color of white gold is actually a light grey, so it's typically coated with a very thin layer of rhodium to achieve its bright, lustrous finish.