You’ve probably heard someone use the word “karat” while discussing gold. You need to have a better understanding of what the term “karat” means before you can distinguish between 24 karat, 22 karat, and 18 karat gold.
The purity of gold can be measured using the karat unit. The purer the gold, the greater the karat. Gold purity is measured in Karats, and is available in different levels of purity, 24 karat is in its purest form, 24k gold makes it more valuable in terms of gold content. Therefore, it is more expensive compared to 22 karats, the purity of the gold varies in different regions and cultures it is worth mentioning other forms of purity levels available:
In essence, the indicator of quality of gold is that higher karat ratings contain more gold compared with lower karat ratings that may be utilized as alloys. Here is a brief explanation of the difference between 24 karat, 22 karat, 18 karat, 14 karat and 10 karat gold.
Different Purities of Gold
24 Karat
The purest form of gold is 24k or 24 karat gold. That indicates that the gold is entirely composed of pure gold contents with no traces of any other metals. Gold that is 24 karats pure or above has a distinctive bright yellow hue. It must be noted that 24 karat is the purest form of gold available in the market.
This form of gold is therefore much more expensive than 22 karat or 18 karat gold because it is the purest form of the metal in contrast to gold of a lower karat, this type of gold has a significantly lower density. It is capable of being extendedor shaped by beating with a hammer without breaking or cracking and also softer than lower karat gold.
As a result, it is not suited for fine and any type of delicate jewelry designs Therefore, it is not made into any regular jewellery, but it is used in some medical and electronic applications. 24K gold is relatively soft and can be easily scratched or dented. If you want to buy gold that is 24 karat pure.
22 karat
Gold marked with a 22 karat rating means that 22 parts of the jewelry and the remaining 2 parts is made of another metal. Jewellers frequently uses gold that is 22 karat pure, It is mostly used in jewelry as it offers the best choice, balance and value
Only 91.6% of gold with a 22 karat purity is pure gold out of a total of 100%. Various metals, copper or silver make up the remaining 8.4%. with the addition of other metals, gold becomes harder, increasing the strength and longevity of gold jewelry. However, Although it is used to make plain gold jewellery, 22K gold is not preferable for any heavy-studded gold jewellery. It is because diamonds and other precious gemstones have weights while 22 karat gold is softer than these stones and cannot hold them firmly through the daily use of the jewellery piece.
18 karat
This form of gold is also popular due to its increased strength and durability as it contains 75% gold and 25% other metals such as silver, copper, and zinc. Compared to higher karat gold alloys, 18K gold is more resistant to scratches and wear, making it a popular choice for engagement and wedding rings. This is the most traditional mix of gold and other metals. 18K pieces tend to have a deeper yellow tone than 14K. Because of the higher gold content in 18K pieces, it will also yield a higher price than 14K, and is usually a sign of a higher quality piece of jewelry.
14 karat
This alloy contains 58.3% gold and 41.7% other metals offers more resistance to wear and tear as compared with 18K or 22K. It’s ideal for everyday use and is the most popular choice for engagement rings and wedding bands. If you have an active lifestyle (sports, regular exercise, manual labor, etc.), 14K jewelry would be the best option for you. durability and affordability.
it’s usually less expensive than other higher karats of gold. The colour of 14karat gold is often paler yellow because of the lower saturation of gold.
10 karat
This form of gold contains at least 41.7%, the rest being other alloys like silver, copper and zinc. That means it has 10 parts of gold out of 24. This gold form is sturdy, not too soft, and doesn’t scratch or bend easily. It is the cheapest form of gold which is mostly used in simple chains, rings, and other items that are not part of any elegant pieces of jewellery collection.
All of the above mentioned forms of gold have their uniqueness and desirability. So whether you decide to go for 10K or 22K, the only thing that matters is that how much the purchase matters in your life make a purchase worth it because gold will glitter anyway!