What is the Difference Between 14K and 18K Gold?

This is a very common question we get asked here at Ziamond, "What is the difference between 14K gold and 18K gold"? We wanted to answer this question in an easy yet relevant way for shoppers, so they have the basic information that will help them make the decision that is best for them on their jewelry shopping journey.

Gold used in fine jewelry is a very popular metal, it’s also a relatively soft metal that can experience wear over time. Gold can be bent, dented, and scratched during normal daily wear. When gold is mined straight out of the earth, it is super soft. We have all seen those old movies and Westerns where people would bite into a coin to see if it was real gold because pure gold was softer than brass or copper. Since pure gold is very soft, alternative metals, called alloys, are added to the pure gold in order to make it more durable for daily use in jewelry.

This is where the word Karat comes into the picture. The purity of gold is a level measured in Karats. We all have jewelry that has a purity stamp like 14K, or 18K. The “K” stands for Karat. It refers to the percentage of pure gold that comprises the particular gold piece of jewelry. One Karat is 1/24 part or 4.1667 percent of the gold purity. So, a 24K gold necklace, for example, is essentially the purest form of gold. 24K gold is rarely used for fine jewelry because the gold is 24K pure gold is too soft.

So what's the difference between 14K and 18K gold?

Gold Purity of 14K vs. 18K Gold

In the modern history of jewelry, 14K and 18K are often the most popular purity levels of gold jewelry. The main difference between these two Karats of gold is the level of pure gold content or percentage of pure gold. For 14K gold, the amount of gold present makes a total of 58.5% pure gold and 18K gold is 75 percent pure gold. The remainder of the content of gold is mixed with alternative metals called alloys. 14K and 18K gold jewelry contain alloyed metals. Gold alloy metals can include silver, zinc, copper, nickel, and palladium. These alloys play a big role, adding strength, a level of durability, and malleability which also affects the final color of the metal. You can tell the difference between 14K because there are color differences between 14K yellow gold and 18K yellow gold. Jewelry made of 18K gold has a richer yellow gold hue while those made of 14K gold have a lighter yellow gold color tone. Also, keep in mind that gold is a heavy metal. The same ring made of 18K gold is made of 75 percent pure gold and will be slightly heavier. Since 14K gold contains 58.5 percentage of gold, 14k gold has less gold in weight.

Hardness and Color of Gold. Is 14K Gold More Durable Than 18K Gold?

Since 14K gold also contains more alloy metals, it tends to be harder and more durable, in most cases, which may be a good choice for a 14k gold engagement ring. The most common type of gold used in the United States is 14K. Even though 14k gold is less pure, 14K gold is the most common due to its strength. It is commonly used for jewelry like gold rings, earrings, chains, and bracelets. 14K gold is quite popular for gold engagement rings and gold wedding bands that contain diamonds and gemstones. Having prongs and metal that is more durable, to hold in precious gems makes more sense. Think of gold jewelry with a lot of small details that require a lot of hand-made fabrication lends itself to softer 18K gold. Also, many European watch and jewelry companies still prefer to fabricate in the higher gold content of 18K gold because of the brighter yellow color of the gold and the texture of softer 18K yellow gold. Jewelers that do a lot of hand-made fabrication prefer the color of 18K gold and because 18K gold makes a softer and more malleable metal.

Affordability. 14K Gold vs 18K Gold: Which Is Right For Me?

Many people that are teetering between 14K and 18K gold should understand that the differences are very subtle. While 18K yellow gold looks richer and more lustrous in gold color, it is a lot softer. So if you are very active and wear rings that get bumped and banged around a lot with diamonds and gemstones, we would suggest 14K gold. If you rarely wear jewelry and you like the color and luster of 18K gold which is brighter than 14K gold, then that would be a wonderful choice. If most of the jewelry you own is 18K gold, then stick with the 18K gold. It's really a personal preference as well as a budget issue. Remember too, 18K gold jewelry pieces will always be more expensive than 14K gold jewelry because 18K contains more pure gold in a piece of jewelry.

Which Type of Gold Is Better? 14K Gold or 18K Gold?

14K Gold Characteristics & Features

For many years 14K gold has been the durable and smart choice for jewelry consumers and designers. 14K gold offers the best of both worlds of high gold purity with durability for daily wear. You can feel confident that the 14K gold prongs holding your precious diamonds or gemstones are strong enough to securely encase your gem. Choose 14K gold which is the most common and 14K gold is the most popular gold Karat used to manufacture fine jewelry that is sold in the USA. The affordability is also a great benefit of 14K gold over 18K jewelry. In very rare cases some people can be allergic to higher levels of alloys. 14-Karat gold contains a higher percentage of alloy metals found in 14K gold vs. 18K gold, if that's the case, we suggest 18 Karat gold.

18K Gold Characteristics & Features

Since 18K gold has a higher content of pure gold which contains more pure gold, this results in many factors that you have to consider when choosing which one is better for you. Some benefits are the rich color and luster of 18K gold. 18K gold jewelry is usually heavier and designed by high-end fine jewelry designers with an emphasis on artistic details. The value of 18K gold is also immediately worth more than 14K gold. If you have allergies to alloy metals, then 18K type of gold is best as it may benefit anyone with allergies to those alloy metals. Some of the drawbacks to 18K gold are that it is more expensive, the gold is slightly softer than 14k, and is more susceptible to scratches, dents, or damage. Active lifestyles or folks with a heavy hand that tend to bump and bang their jewelry around could experience issues. If you mix 18K gold with your 14K gold fine jewelry, the colors can differ. Repairs of 18K gold means 18K gold may be more expensive in the long run due to the price of gold. Overall, 18K gold is a fantastic metal and the pros usually outweigh the cons but some people also don't see the benefits over the extra costs of 18K gold.

Conclusion

Asking the question to find out the benefits or drawbacks of 14K gold versus 18K gold is valid. While the differences are slight, the type of gold really depends on the use case as well as your lifestyle. Ziamond jewelry designs that feature our lab-grown, lab-created diamond simulants can usually be made in either 14K gold or 18K gold, so ask us and we can provide a quote on either. Each design will also have pros and cons of the two metals, so call us and we can discuss it with you. Either way, decide between 14K or 18K gold which are both amazing choices for your jewelry.