When shopping for jewelry, it can be overwhelming to understand the various finishes and terminology used to describe gold. Most shoppers have a common goal: they're looking for something that will last through everyday life without requiring a lot of special care, but won't break the bank. The difference between 14k and 18k can be a common question for those shopping for affordable gold jewelry.
Karat refers to the purity level of gold. Gold is a very soft metal that must be mixed with an alloy, or mixed metal of two or more elements to make it more durable and resist corrosion.
The highest purity of gold is 24 karats. With this in mind, it's important to point out that 24 karat gold is not ideal for constructing or wearing jewelry. Since the gold is so soft, it can bend or deform easily. Most jewelers actually use 22k gold to represent the highest purity; not 24k.
In numerical terms, the karat you see represents how many parts of 24. Therefor, 18k gold is 75% gold and 25% alloy, because 18 is 75% of 24. 14k gold is 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy.
In general, you may notice that 14k gold is slightly less yellow than 18 or 24 karat gold. That's because there is so much more alloy mixed in, and most alloys are gray metallic. Personally, I prefer a nice, bright yellow which looks high-quality.
18k gold is an affordable metal that is strong from alloy but with a high level of purity.
Kaylie Dawn jewelry uses 18k gold plated beads and findings to ensure longevity at a great price. If you've met me for a retail partner appointment or you just happened to get me on the topic of my jewelry, I probably pointed out that I'm wearing the first-ever Anna bracelet I ever made in 2020. I wear it every day!
Three-plus years later, my original Anna bracelet can still sit with my newer pieces without looking much different. Sure, after three years of skin contact, the occasional swim, and various sleeves, lotions and potions, the older bracelet is slightly less bright yellow than the newer pieces. That's because consistent contact can wear plating down. For a $35.00 piece of jewelry, I think it looks remarkable.
Another great thing to note is that plated jewelry can always be re-plated by a jeweler at a reasonable price. This is a great way to refresh your gold plated pieces after several years.
Feel free to comment with questions or comments about your experiences with gold!
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