Difference B/W 14K Carat Gold vs 18K Carat Gold

Difference B/W 14K Carat Gold vs 18K Carat Gold

Jewelry buyers often face the dilemma of choosing between 14k and 18k Gold. The 14K vs 18K gold is an interesting discussion that can benefit the readers, highlighting the pros of selecting either of these two gold alloy varieties. Pure Gold is an exceptionally non-reactive metal but is also much softer in structure than other metals. While its non-reactivity allows it to be in a pure state without getting corroded, making it a precious commodity, it's mixed with other metals to give it physical strength and durability. These gold alloys come in different concentrations, and one cannot complain as it's always good to have options. The purest form of Gold is said to be the 24 karat gold, abbreviated as 24K gold, which refers to 24 "parts" of pure Gold without any other metal. 14K and 18K gold are diluted alloys of Gold with lower pure gold concentrations.

What is 14K Gold?

14K Gold refers to the gold alloy composition that has 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts of other metal/s, making a total of 24 parts of the alloy. With a bit of mathematics, 14k Gold will have 58.5% Gold and 48.5% alloy. Since the composition has more than 50% gold, 14k Gold is a valuable and cost-effective choice for gold buyers.

What is 18K Gold?

18K Gold, when split into 22 parts, will contain 18 parts of pure Gold, while the remaining 6 parts will be of other alloys. In other words, 18K gold would have 75% gold and 25% percent of other metal alloy. 18K Gold is preferred for its high Gold concentration and often has a significant resale value while being easy on one's pocket.

Differences between 14K & 18K Gold?

There are considerable differences between 14K and 18K gold jewelry that are useful for jewelry buyers. 14K Gold is considerably durable and resistant to physical damage as it has a higher alloy concentration that gives strength to soft Gold. 18K gold has a higher gold concentration, which makes it susceptible to physical wear and tear, but it is highly resistant to chemicals and corrosion. Higher amounts of purity lend 18K Gold richer, more saturated colors than 14K gold, but it is also costlier than the latter. In short, 14K gold is affordable and physically durable, while 18K gold offers richer gold concentration, intense colors, and long-lasting luster.

1. Purity and Composition

14K Gold has 58.5% pure gold, and the remaining 48.5% is made of alloys consisting of silver, copper, nickel, palladium, etc., depending on the jewelry requirements. 18K Gold contains a whopping 75% pure gold and 25% other metals, which can be primarily made of Silver and Copper or Nickel and Palladium, too.

2. Color and Appearance

A fundamental difference between the two gold varieties is in their color. Both of these varieties come in yellow, white, and rose gold colors, and there is a considerable difference between the intensity and saturation of the hues. The color of 18K gold is warmer and richer than 14K Gold due to the higher gold content. The difference between 14k and 18k white Gold is the "purer" white, or "whiter white" of 18K white Gold. The same is the case with 18K yellow gold, which has a richer yellow hue than its 14K counterpart. A reverse trend is seen in the rose gold category, where the 14K rose Gold has a more reddish tone than 18K rose Gold due to higher copper content.

14K gold(left) is more rosier than 18K gold(right) when compared.

3. Durability and Wearability

Gold by itself is a soft metal that is prone to physical wear and tear, which is why it's mixed with other metals to give it strength and durability. However, Gold is also more resistant to chemical reactions and corrosion than other metals and keeps its shine for a long time, which is a prime reason why it's so valuable. 14K gold is considered to be more durable than 18K Gold due to its higher alloy content, but it can be more prone to corrosion and loss of luster. In other words, 14K Gold is more physically durable and resistant to cuts, scratches, and damage. 18K Gold will keep its shine for a longer period, withstanding corrosive chemicals, sweat, etc.

4. Cost Comparison

18K Gold is more valuable and costly than 14K Gold due to the richer gold content. Though 14K gold is a more cost-effective option than 18K Gold, buying 18K Gold is definitely worth one's money because of its timeless value.

How to choose between 14K and 18K Gold?

One can choose between 14k vs 18k Gold based on three factors: Color, Usage, and Price. For those looking for warmer, beautiful colors that appear to have more life, one can choose 18K Gold. As per usage, both 14K and 18K Gold can be worn every day. However, people in certain professions, which can be physically demanding, can choose 14K Gold as it is still more resistant to physical damage and wear and tear than 18K Gold. In terms of price, 14K Gold costs less than 18K gold and can be a good option for those who are on a budget. Still, 18K gold is a good investment due to its higher pure gold content.

Mixing and matching 14K white gold and 18K rose gold jewelry.

Care & Maintenance for 14k and 18k Gold Jewelry?

Both 14k and 18k gold items are resistant to various kinds of wear and tear, making them both suitable for daily wear. There are still a few points that can be taken into consideration regularly to keep one's precious 14k and 18k gold jewelry retains its beauty and luster for a long time. These gold varieties don't have great differences in their composition and, therefore, can be taken care of similarly.

• 1. Precautions

  Avoid wearing 14k and 18K Gold while participating in activities that can damage the jewelry items. Despite the 14K and 18K gold jewelry being rated as safe for everyday wearing, it's still good to take precautions against any foreseeable harm.

• 2. Regular Cleaning

  Make sure to clean your gold jewelry regularly to protect it from corrosive discoloring from various factors. One's own sweat, high-pH or alkaline water, cosmetic chemicals, etc., can react chemically with the alloys in 14k or 18k Gold. One can avoid this by washing the jewelry with warm water and a mild soapy solution.

• 3. Safe Keeping

  Make sure to keep the jewelry in a box that cannot be scratched or damaged by other items. Soft, precious 14k or 18k Gold jewelry should ideally be kept in its own box with a smooth, satin interior lining, even kept away from other jewelry as they can also cause scratches and other wear and tear.

Conclusion

Gold is and will be an absolute favorite metal choice for jewelry. Its luxurious, sophisticated appeal, coupled with rarity and high luster, finds many buyers worldwide. In the debate of 14k vs 18k Gold, the two most popular varieties, the purpose wins the case. One can go with any of these choices depending upon the need and budget of the buyer. Whatever the buyer's reason and choice, it's all pure Gold in different concentrations, after all.

FAQs

1. Is 14K or 18K Gold more valuable?

If equal quantities of 14K & 18K Gold are considered, 18K Gold will have more amount of "Pure Gold" in it, making it more valuable than 14K Gold.

2. Which is more durable, 14K or 18K Gold?

Pure Gold is physically softer than most metals but is highly resistant to chemical reactions and corrosion. Therefore, objects made of 14K Gold will be physically durable against daily wear and tear, while 18K Gold items won't lose their luster and shine easily as they won't react with sweat and other chemicals due to the higher Gold content.

3. How can I tell if my jewelry is 14K or 18K Gold?

14K gold items have a bright yellow color, but 18K Gold jewelry has a considerably richer, saturated yellow color due to higher gold content. 18K White Gold has a brighter white than 14K White Gold, and 14K rose Gold will have a pinker hue than 18K rose Gold, which would be peachier in comparison.

4. Is there a color difference between 14K and 18K Gold?

Yes, 14K Gold has dull colors as compared to 18K gold. The color of 14K gold is beautiful and rich, but 18K Gold has more saturated colors due to lesser alloy and higher pure gold content.