The world's toughest precious metal and the differences between 14k and 18k gold
In its purest form, gold is incredibly soft for use as jewelry; one solution for jewelers all over the world was to alloy gold with other metals to strengthen it. The purity of gold is measured in karats, and 24 karat gold is the purest.
Karats are units of measurement that indicate the percentage of pure gold in jewelry. However, not to be confused with the term carat (pronounced the same), which is a unit of measurement for the weight of gemstones.
At MOOGU, we make 14k or 18k gold jewelry that can be ordered in all varieties of gold: white, yellow or rose gold, with or without diamonds or precious stones. But first of all, it is a good idea to discover more details about the essential differences between the two types of gold, so that you can choose the best option for your precious little treasures.
| WHITE GOLD | 14K | 18K |
| Composition | 58.5% pure gold, 10% palladium, 8% platinum, 4.5% zinc, 2.5% silver | 75% pure gold, 12% palladium, 8% platinum, 6% zinc, 4.5% silver |
| And % | 58,5% | 75% |
| Aspect | Rhodium plating gives it a brilliant white appearance | The rhodium plating gives it a bright white look, but also glossier |
| AND YELLOW | 14K | 18K |
| Composition | 58.5% gold, 29% copper, 12.5% silver | 75% gold, 15% copper, 10% silver |
| And % | 58,5% | 75% |
| Aspect | Gentle and warm shade of yellow | The rich shade of yellow |
| AND EVERY DAY | 14K | 18K |
| Composition | 58.5% gold, 33.5% copper, 8% silver | 75% gold, 15% copper, 10% silver |
| And % | 58,5% | 75% |
| Aspect | Shades of pink with golden champagne iridescence | Vibrant red color intertwined with the lush golden hue |
The Appearance of the World's Hardest Precious Metal Sometimes it can be hard to see a visible difference between 14k and 18k gold. If you want to embellish your jewelry with colored gemstones, you should think about whether the gold you want to choose is suitable in combination with other gemstones.
18k gold will always have a stronger yellow tint, especially in rose and yellow gold. 18K gold jewelry harmonizes ideally with white or the highest quality, colorless diamonds.
14k gold tends to be less intense in color, but is a flawless choice in combination with gemstones or colored diamonds.
It is also important to consider your skin color and complexion as you will be able to find a particular Karat that compliments you and your personality.
The durability of gold jewelry
Over the course of wear, it is natural for gold to scratch, bend, and wear in one form or another. Gold karat may play a minor role in its overall durability, however, gold will never be scratch or tarnish resistant. Due to the higher percentage of metals in the alloy, 14k gold offers a slightly higher wear resistance than 18k.
If you follow an active lifestyle or at work you use your hands in various manual activities as a result of which jewelry can suffer damage, 14k gold is an excellent alternative for your precious little treasures.
That said, you can wear 18k gold jewelry every day without any problems, making it a popular choice for wedding rings and engagement rings.
Value of gold
14k gold jewelry is less expensive than 18k because of the lower amount of pure gold in the alloy.
At MOOGU, we receive gold in exchange for making wedding rings. This will be valued and quoted at the gold market price on the day of the order and subtracted from the final price of the wedding rings.
Out of care for gold jewelry
Gold, in its purest form - 25 Karat, does not oxidize or tarnish, however, the base metals that make up 14k or 18k gold can react when exposed to certain chemicals, for example perfumes, chlorine, hair spray, cleaning products.
The larger the carat, the less likely it is to lose its luster. In most cases, gold jewelry will never show signs of oxidation or discoloration. This can be confirmed on a case-by-case basis, but this process is also related to the skin's own chemistry.
At MOOGU, we love to create beautiful things and unique moments with you. That's why we are always available to listen to you. For any information you want about your favorite products, we encourage you to contact us by email or visit our studio for a chat - where no appointment is needed during the week.
