- Types of Gold Karats
The purpose of creating different types of gold alloys can be to :
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/9/3/44937843/biz-sky-mint-types-of-gold-karats-orig_orig.png)
- Give the gold more strength, Pure gold is so soft it can be bent with your fingers, When mixed with different metals, It becomes much harder.
- Create different gold colors, Pure gold is bright yellow, To get colors like white gold and rose gold other metals like zinc and copper must also be used.
- Bring down the gold’s price, Pure gold is expensive, Mixing gold with cheaper metals makes it more affordable.
The four most common types of gold jewellery karatages you’ll see are : 24, 18, 14 and 10 karats.
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Gold Karatages And Uses
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- 24 Karat Gold
However due to being very soft and malleable, Pure gold is not practical for most types of gold jewellery, Common 24K gold stamp marks :
- Gold ( Meaning pure gold )
- 24 Karat or 24K ( Meaning 24/24 parts gold )
- .999 ( Meaning 999/1000 parts or 99.9% gold )
- 18 Karat Gold
Some 18k alloys contain nickel, An element which can cause skin irritation, However, the nickel content in 18k gold is too low to be a concern for most people even those with sensitive skin, Common 18K gold stamp marks :
- 18 Karat or 18K ( Meaning 18/24 parts gold )
- .750 ( Meaning 750/1000 parts, or 75% gold )
- 14 Karat Gold
Skin reactions to nickel-containing 14k gold are rare, But if you’re concerned about sensitivity ask to know the piece you’re buying is nickel-free, Common 14K gold stamp marks :
- 14 Karat or 14K ( Meaning 14/24 parts gold )
- .583 ( Meaning 583/1000 parts, or 58.3% gold )
- 10 Karat Gold
Though 10k gold is durable, Its low purity equals a duller appearance, This makes it a less ideal form of gold for special or meaningful types of jewellery, Such as engagement rings.
Nickel-containing 10k gold alloys are also more likely to cause problems for those with nickel sensitivity, Since lower gold content usually equals higher nickel content, Common 10K gold stamp marks :
- 10 Karat or 10K ( Meaning 10/24 parts gold )
- .417 ( Meaning 417/1000 parts, or 41.7% gold )