What Is The Best Gold To Buy In Jewelry
Are you designing your jewelry but don’t know which gold is best for you? Are you scared of facing loss due to your wrong choice regarding the gold material? Gold has been a famous choice among us for our jewelry due to its beauty and value, whether for a wedding ring or necklace. However, there are different purity levels of gold you may not know about.
Choosing a gold type for your jewelry without information may cause you to face loss. Because it may not be the best choice for your purpose. Let’s discuss the factors you need to consider to evaluate what is the best gold to buy in jewelry.
What Is Karat
You may confuse Karat with Carat but it is a different unit. Karat is known as the purity level of gold which is abbreviated with K. Now you can understand that what is 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, and 10K. These are the purity levels of gold in which 24K is the purest form of gold you can get.
Meanwhile levels other than 24K gold have some proportion of alloy metal to complete the 100% formation of jewelry. Alloy metal isn’t mixed just to reduce the purity of the gold, alloy metal is mixed with gold jewelry to increase its durability for daily wear.
Purity Levels Of The Gold
Now you are aware of what Karat is and its role in choosing gold. So let's discuss the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of different purity levels of gold.
24K Gold
24K is the purest form of gold which is 99.9% gold. This is the most expensive and valuable type of gold you can ever have. After hearing about the purity of the gold, you may consider it as your best option.
But Gold is a soft and heavy metal. If you use pure-form gold in your jewelry, you will get these properties of gold in your jewelry too. Your jewelry will be soft as gold and can easily be bent, scratched, warped, and damaged.
Pure gold is also much more expensive because gold is an expensive metal. It is the best option to buy 24K gold if you are going to invest in gold and saving assets for your heirloom. But 24K is not the best option for your jewelry especially for wedding rings and bands because of its soft property.
22K Gold
22K gold is the purest form of gold that can be used in making your jewelry. 22K gold is 91.7% gold and the remaining is alloy metal. 22K is not that far from 24K gold but it is more durable because of the mixing of alloy metal.
22K gold is not that strong to hold gemstones on the jewelry. It can be deformed because of the gemstone. However, it is the best option to choose for making wedding rings and bands that don’t contain gemstones.
18K Gold
18K gold has a balance of 75% gold and 25% alloying metal. 25% of alloying metal allows it to be durable and retain the shape you have put it in. It will also be free of allergic reactions to your skin because it contains a very small amount of alloying metal
However, 18K gold will not be the best option for you if you are looking to buy gold on a low budget because of its large proportion of gold.
14K Gold
14K gold is one of the most used gold as 90% of wedding and engagement rings in the US are made of 14K gold. It is because it has a proportion of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloying metal. It is the strongest type of gold for jewelry that also maintains a good proportion of gold, increasing its value.
It is the best option for you if your skin tone doesn’t suit bright yellow color because it isn’t as intense yellow as 18K and 22K. But it still has a rich appearance that makes your jewelry attractive.
The major disadvantage of 14K gold is that it may irritate sensitive skin because of its high proportion of alloy metal.
10K Gold
10K gold has a purity of 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy metal which makes it the lowest purity level that can be used. It may not be usually used with high-end jewelry but you can use it in making earrings and other jewelry.
The amount of alloy metal it has makes it much less expensive than 14K and 18K gold and durable enough that you can wear it regularly without any worries. However, this quantity of alloy metal makes it pale yellow colored and increases the possibility of skin irritation.
Difference Between Gold Platted, Gold Filled, And Solid Gold Jewelry
Gold-Plated Jewelry
Gold-plated jewelry has a structure made up of base metal which is coated with a gold layer through gold plating. This is an inexpensive option for you if are low on budget but it isn’t long-lasting.
Gold Filled Jewelry
Gold-filled jewelry is made up of a bonding thick gold layer with a base metal that makes it more durable. It will be long-lasting for you if handle it with care.
Solid Gold Jewelry
This is the most resistant jewelry because it is purely made of gold. They will be more expensive for you because of the proportion of gold.
Budget
You also need to consider your budget when buying gold for the jewelry. If you are high on budget, solid gold jewelry is the best option for you because of its high resale value and quality. You can also go for gold-plated and gold-filled jewelry if you are low on budget.
Conclusion
14K and 18K is the recommended gold for you because of its balance of durability and purity. But the best gold for you depends upon your budget and the type of jewelry you are demanding. Please visit Park Palace Jewelers for detailed information about gold types and the best options for your jewelry.
