What are the Differences between 10k vs 14k vs 18k Gold?

Had there been just one kind of gold, life would be much easier. However, that would diminish combinations and leave less space for creativity!

Gold jewelry comes in many varieties, such as yellow gold, rose gold and white gold. It also has different karat grades for different purity levels.

100% pure yellow gold is 24k or 24 karat. 10k gold has 41.7% gold purity. It has 10 in 24 parts gold by weight. Similarly, 14k and 18k gold have 58.3% and 75% gold content in their composition, respectively.

But, gold has more than 3 colors and 3 main karat grades. When we think all the combinations, add plating options for white gold, this abundance of choices may be puzzling at times.

• Is 10k gold better than 14k?
• Is 10k gold good for sensitive ears?
• Does 18k gold tarnish?

These are only 3 of the common questions asked while shopping for gold jewelry.

The good news is, we’re here to help you make the best buying decision with a comparison between 10k vs 14k vs 18k gold!

Let’s dive in!

A. What is gold?

Gold is that beautiful yellow precious metal that everyone loves. Through history, it has been the choice for everlasting bonds, and symbol of wealth.

It is found in nature as reddish yellow deposits. Its chemical symbol is Au, coming from the Latin Aurum. It has the number 79 on the periodic table of elements.

Soft, Rare & Precious

Pure gold is too soft for jewelry. It is a malleable inert metal but it lacks hardness and durability.

Had we used pure 100% gold for jewelry, those pieces would easily get scratched and lose their form.

This is why we make gold into alloys with harder metals to increase durability.

These metal alloys have lower gold percentage levels, but offer the necessary toughness to cope with everyday wear and tear.

With other metals coming into the mix, the color slowly drifts away from the natural gold yellow. The higher is the gold purity, the closer is the color to natural yellow color.

Also, these alloys may have different colors other than yellow. Check our posts Gold vs Rose Gold and Gold vs White Gold for detailed comparison on other two popular alloys.

Have you ever found gold?

You just don’t find a gold mine every now and then.

In earth’s crust, it is calculated that there is 0.004 parts per million gold. That’s a very low ratio!

There is a reason why we say hitting gold for someone who really made it!

Every year, only about 2,500-3,500 tonnes of gold are added to the available stock. About half of this output is used for jewelry and a quarter for private investments.

China, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Ghana are the countries with the most notable deposits.

Gold is expensive

If you would expect that a precious metal with such limited supply would command a high price tag, you were right!

At the time of writing, price of gold was trading around $2,000.

But, this value is subject to change every second. There are many factors that prices react to such as central bank interest rates, geopolitics, inflation, industry and jewelry demand etc.

Luckily, there are jewelry pieces with price tags for every budget.

Does gold tarnish?

Gold does not tarnish like sterling silver.

Tarnish is the black spots that form on the surface of some metals, especially sterling silver. These are the results of silver reacting with hydrogen sulfur and other sulfur compounds present in the air. Tarnishing can also occur from humidity and water after a longer period.

Happily, this is a self-limiting phenomenon that stays at the surface. It does not penetrate the metal and lead to corrosion.

This blackish layers ruin silver’s shine and demand polishing. This means more care and maintenance than usual. While it is very possible to get rid of tarnish, the process takes away very small amounts of silver from the piece.

In the case for gold, you don’t need extra care such as removing tarnish.

B. What is karat?

Karat is the unit we use to measure the purity of the gold alloy. It indicates the amount of pure gold present in a piece of jewelry or gold item.

As distance is measured in miles and weight in ounces, the karat amount shows the weight ratio of gold in the piece.

The karat number of a piece of gold jewelry is another representation for the ratio of gold in its composition.

A fine gold item is 24 karat or 24k.

It is the purest form of gold or 100% pure.

In other words, that piece has 24 in 24 parts gold.

Thus, 1 karat grade gold means 1/24^th of the piece is gold.

14k gold engagement rings have 58.3% gold in weight.

18k gold wedding rings have 75% of gold content in their mix.

Different purities of gold come in different karat level items.

Karat vs Carat: Is karat the same as carat?

The answer is no.

Karat is the unit for gold fineness.

Carat is the unit of weight used to measure diamonds and other gems.

1 carat equals 200 milligrams.

Weight units in carat

Weight	Milligram	Carat
1 ounce	28,349.5	141.75
1 pound	453,592	2,267.96
1 gram	1,000	5
1 kilogram	1,000,000	5,000

100% pure gold is not the best option for jewelry

“Pure gold is 24k. It is the best! Let’s choose our jewelry from 24k gold!”

Well, there is problem right there – a big problem.

24k or fine gold is too soft to be made into jewelry item.

It is not very durable. It will quickly lose its form.

Thus, 100 percent gold items are not suitable for everyday wear.

24k gold is used for bullion bars stored in vaults, treasuries and central banks. 24 karat gold is also used to produce smaller gold pieces like 1 ounce gold eagle coins.

For jewelry, we use alloys with superior hardness and durability.

Gold is mixed with other metals such as copper, nickel or zinc.

Thanks to this process, it becomes a suitable material for jewelry.

Most popular karat types of gold pieces are 10k, 14k and 18k.

The main difference between these gold types is their purity level. 10k gold contains 41.7% pure gold, 14k gold contains 58.3% pure gold, and 18k gold contains 75% pure gold.

These alloys are often preferred over 8k gold or 22k gold alloy for jewelry.

These gold karats have differences in color, hardness, hypoallergenic property and price.

Karat Table

Karat	Stamp	Gold parts	Gold %	Other %
1 karat	1k	1 part	4.17	95.83
8 karat	8k	8 parts	33.33	66.67
10 karat	10k	10 parts	41.67	58.33
14 karat	14k	14 parts	58.33	41.67
18 karat	18k	18 parts	75.00	25.00
20 karat	20k	20 parts	83.33	16.67
22 karat	22k	22 parts	91.67	8.33
24 karat	24k	24 parts	100	0

C. 10k vs 14k vs 18k gold: which one is better?

1. Color

Gold has a natural yellow color, but in alloys this slowly drifts away with added metals.

The higher is the gold purity or karat, the close is the color to natural yellow appearance.

As the gold purity decreases, the colors of gold jewelry moves away from the bright yellow color and weakens.

For example, 24k gold will have a more blazing yellow color than 18k gold.

14k wedding band has brighter gold color than a similar 10k ring.

What is the difference in color between 10k, 14k, and 18k gold?

10k gold has a slightly paler yellow color compared to 14k and 18k gold. 14k gold has a rich yellow color, while 18k gold has a deep, vibrant yellow hue.

You can check the color differences of the karat types and other popular jewelry metals from the image above.

2. Hardness

Gold becomes harder as the added metal part increases.

10k piece has the lowest gold content but it is the hardest among these three.

10k piece has 41.7% gold and 58.3% other metals in its composition.

On the other side, a 18k piece has 75% gold and only 25% added metals in its mix. This latter percentage is less than half  of 10k gold’s addition ratio.

This shows that a higher percentage of 10k gold consists of other metals like copper.

This increased part makes it stronger and more durable than 18k gold jewelry pieces.

10k gold is a popular choice for rings and bracelets.

Hardness is measured with the help of the Mohs scale for mineral hardness.

18k gold has a 2.8 grade, while 14k pieces have around 3.5-4 , depending on their mix.

For the sake of comparison, let’s share that on the same scale, rhodium and titanium receives a 6 and platinum gets about 4-4.5 grade. Diamond tops the list with a 10 grade.

Harder objects can scratch softer ones. So, as the level on the Mohs scale increases scratch resistance increases too.

3. Hypoallergenic property

Metal allergy is a condition that causes people with sensitive skin to have allergic reactions to metals like nickel and lead.

Allergic reactions may trigger symptoms not after immediate contact, but after sufficient period of  time has passed and a threshold level of absorption is reached by the skin.

The symptoms of metal allergy include headaches, skin irritations like redness, itching, blisters and swelling.

Nickel is the most common metal that causes metal allergy. Around 10% of the US population is affected by nickel allergy.

So, choosing nickel-free jewelry and avoiding items that includes even trace amounts of allergenic metals is a safe bet.

Thankfully, there is a groups of metals called hypoallergenic metals which are considered safe for people with sensitive skin.

Silver, titanium, palladium, platinum and gold are few of these.

Although, no one can guarantee zero risk, it is highly unlikely that a person will face any undesired results with hypoallergenic materials.

Please note that, even if gold is hypoallergenic, a jewelry piece made of gold may contain other metals directly or indirectly in the mix.

This is why checking the composition before buying is important. Prefer hypoallergenic jewelry and opt for the higher gold karat ones.

Choosing a higher purity gold jewelry is better for , will decrease the probability of metal allergies as it has much less added metals.

This does not mean that the risk is null, it just gives a general direction for peace of mind.

After all, we are all alike but all different at the same time. Everyone’s skin is similar but they do not share the same skin sensitivity level. Your skin may be less or more sensitive than the average.

Say, you experienced discomfort after you wore a 10k gold bracelet, you may want to try a 18k gold bracelet instead.

If you are suspicious that you have metal hypersensitivity, it is always a good idea to consult a medical doctor. This may prevent possible negative outcomes, and you’ll be informed by a medical professional after personal inspection.

4. Price

Almost always, gold is the the most expensive metal in the jewelry piece.

Thus, its cost heavily affects the end price.

The amount of gold will decrease as the fineness decreases, and it will cost less.

10k gold pieces are the most affordable jewelry between these three karat options.

For example, 18 karat gold chain will have a higher price than a similar 14 karat chain.

Higher karat type of gold jewelry, like 22k, adding precious gemstones, and famous designers’ limited edition collections will be the more expensive options.

This is again valid if you ever want to sell your gold for cash at a jewelry shop or pawn shop. The resell value will be higher for higher karat pieces.

If you want to learn more on the investment use of gold, you may check this post on gold bullion.

D. The Verdict: 10k vs 14k vs 18k gold: Which is better?

The purity of gold items is denoted in karat, with the most popular options of 10k, 14k and 18k.

These have 41.7%, 58.3% and 75 percent gold, respectively.

They are all made of real yellow gold.

18k is the closest to fine gold, in terms of color, softness and price.

It has a richer yellow color than the other two.

As it has the highest gold percentage, it will be closer to fine yellow gold.

14k and 10k gold will have decreasing levels of yellow luster.

With the addition of stronger metals, the color slowly moves away from the original yellow tint. This also makes the alloy harder and more durable.

Thus, 10k will be harder than 14k gold. This means it will gather less scratches and show more endurance against daily wear and tear.

In turn, 14k is harder and more scratch resistant than 18k gold.

As the extra metals in the mix are more abundant and cheaper than gold, the overall price will gradually decrease with dropping karat values.

10k gold is the most affordable option between these 3 karat grades. 14k and 18k will carry higher price tags.

However, with a higher percentage of base metals, metal allergy risk increases.

Even if the mix might does not directly have allergenic metals like lead or nickel, there might be trace amounts entering indirectly.

These minority metals may trigger allergic reactions for people with sensitive skin.

In this regard, 18k gold jewelry is a safer bet, as it is closer to pure gold, which is hypoallergenic.

When we look at color, hypoallergenic property and price 18k gold comes on top. However, it is softness means it will be less scratch resistant and less durable than 10k and 14k pieces.

All three gold purity levels are commonly used in engagement rings and all sorts of jewelry.

In the end, it will come to your personal preference and we hope we did a good job on sharing the most important points in this comparison of 10k vs 14k vs 18k gold.

If you are looking for gold wedding bands and want them to become the first members of your family heirloom, you should know that all 3 karat gold pieces are popular options that have made many couples happy before you!

E. Related Questions

1. Is polished gold real gold?

Yes, it is made of real gold but do not mistake it for solid pieces like yellow gold or rose gold rings etc. Check this post for more on polished gold.

2. Is 22k gold too soft for jewelry?

Fine gold is 24 karat. It has 24 in 24 parts gold.

100% pure gold is too soft. Thus, alloys are used to make jewelry.

22k has 91.7%  gold in its composition, while the remaining small part comes from other cheaper base metals like copper.

It is more durable than fine gold but, it should not be the first pick for jewelry.

The most popular karats for gold alloys used in jewelry are 10k, 14k and 18k.

These have 41.7%, 58.3% and 75% gold purity, respectively.

They  have smaller gold percentages compared to 22k, but they are all harder and more durable that offer longevity. Check the post above for more information.

3. What are the advantages of 10k gold?

The main advantage of 10k gold is its affordability. It is the cheapest gold option due to its lower gold content.

4. What is the difference between 18k yellow gold and 18k white gold?

Both types of gold have the same purity level (75% pure gold), but the difference lies in the alloy used. 18k yellow gold has a yellow color, while 18k white gold is mixed with white metals, such as nickel or palladium, to give it a white color.

5. Which gold purity level is the best for jewelry?

The choice of gold purity level depends on personal preference and budget. 18k gold is usually considered the best choice for fine jewelry due to its higher percentage of pure gold. However, 14k gold is also a popular choice as it offers a good balance between durability and gold content.

6. How much pure gold is present in 14k gold?

14k gold contains 58.3% pure gold. The remaining percentage is made up of other metals, such as copper and silver, which are used to create the gold alloy.