If you’re looking for an any jewelry, you should know that the type of gold you select can have a massive impact on its appearance, its feeling, and even its durability. In the jewelry world, the type of diamond you choose should be your main focus – but gold is a close second. As gold purity decreases the shade of gold gets lighter.
But what is a gold karat, exactly? And how should you decide between the different gold purity levels?
10K vs 14K vs 18K and 24K Gold
These measurements indicate that the material contains 18/24, 14/24, and 10/24 parts gold, respectively. How pure is the gold that is used in your gold jewelry (or any other piece of jewelry for that matter):
Gold Karat Scale – Gold Purity Chart
| Gold Karats | Gold Purity % | Other Metal % |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| 22K | 91.6% | 8.4% |
| 20K | 83.33% | 16.67% |
| 18K | 75% | 25% |
| 14K | 58.33% | 41.67% |
| 12K | 50% | 50% |
| 10K | 41.67% | 58.33% |