Different Types of Gold: Colors & Karats
Gold Nugget
Look at the pure gold nugget pictured. Notice how it naturally strikes a yellow hue and how gold appears in its untouched form state from the earth.
Are you Confused about different types of gold colors and karats? When buying jewelry you’ll find various kinds of gold and it can vary based on its purity and form. Gold comes in other colors yellow, white, and rose. Gold jewelry also comes in different karat, which is specified by its purity, and 24k gold is pure but it’s not recommended for daily wear 14k and 18k gold are mixed with metal to make it more stable than 24K.
Types of Gold
Different types of gold in different weights (karats) are available in the market. Which color do you prefer to look decent? Let’s have a look at the following details:
Colors of Gold Jewelry
If you ever know gold jewelry comes in three different colors. When we talk about gold color the first thought in our mind is a yellow color in gold jewelry but Gold jewelry doesn’t only come in yellow It can also be white gold or rose gold mixed with other metals like silver, copper, or zinc with pure gold to make different types shades.
Yellow Gold
Natural gold is Yellow color gold but yellow gold jewelry is not made up of pure gold because pure gold is very soft and can easily be scratched, Jewelers add other metals to make it strong and maintain the yellow color or stability. Yellow gold is the most popular color used in jewelry worldwide.
Gold | Sliver | Copper | Zinc/Nickel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18K Yellow Gold | 75% | 12% to 15% | 10% to 12% | 0% to 2% |
| 14K Yellow Gold | 58.3% | 30% to 33% | 10% to 13% | 0% to 3% |
| 10K Yellow Gold | 41.7% | 50% to 53% | 5% to 8% | 0% to 4% |
| 24K Yellow Gold | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
When making jewelry, jewelers need to follow certain steps for gold content requirements to make yellow gold or other colored gold. They may vary the types and amounts of other metals they add, but the percentages shown are close approximations but not exact.
White Gold
White gold is a popular choice for jewelry and highly recommend white gold jewelry especially engagement rings for its sophisticated appearance. One of the most important features of white gold it doesn’t lose its shine and doesn’t get scratched easily, so it’s suitable for everyday wear white gold is created by alloying pure gold with white metals such as silver, palladium, and sometimes nickel or zinc. This alloying method gives white gold its silvery-white color look.
| Gold | Sliver | Palladium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18K White Gold | 75% | 0% to 10% | 15% to 25% |
| 14K White Gold | 58.3% | 28% to 35% | 8% to 14% |
| 10K White Gold | 41.7% | 46% to 48% | 7% to 11% |
Rose Gold
Rose gold is an alloy of mixed gold, Rose gold is made by adding gold with other metals such as copper and sometimes with silver metal. Gold is 75% pure, copper makes up about 22.5%, and silver comprises approximately 2.5% of 18K rose gold. This combination gives a rose gold blush-pink appearance. Rose gold is stronger than yellow and white gold due to the higher copper content.
| Glod | Coper | Sliver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18K Rose Gold | 75% | 22% to 23% | 2% to 3% |
| 14K Rose Gold | 58.3% | 31% to 33% | 8% to 10% |
| 10K Rose Gold | 41.7% | 37% to 39% | 19% to 21% |
The rose gold color can be modified by adjusting its composition, Pink gold alloys incorporate higher amounts of silver and reduce the proportion of copper. resulting in a softer and more subtle rose hue. This composition variation allows for customization in the creation to achieve exact shades of rose gold.
Different Karats of Gold
We can measure Gold purity in karats (K). Higher numbers contain more gold content. 24K gold is 100% completely pure because no alloyed metals are mixed in, while 22K contains 91.6% pure gold.18K contains 75% and 10K contains 41.7% pure gold. When buying jewelry, always check for the karat mark like “14k” to Know how pure it is.
24 Karat Gold
24K karat is the purest form of gold which consists of 100% gold with no alloyed metals mixed in it. The purest nature of 24K gold leads many people to believe it is the “best” option. However, It has a hugely yellow color and charm shine, this type of karat does not keep to be used for jewelry rarely used for jewelry due to its soft nature which makes it less suitable and stable for everyday wear. You might see this 24 karat often referred to as 999 gold, reflecting its 99.9% purity.
22 Karat Gold
22-karat is composed of 91.67% pure gold and 8% alloyed metals like copper, silver, nickel, or zinc. 22K gold is more long-wearing than 24K gold because of their alloyed metals Most of the jewelers use 22k karat for making gold wedding jewelry, such as necklaces set, bangles, rings, and earrings. Some people take 22k karat gold as an investment due to its high purity nature and the current rate of the gold market. The important fact is that 22k can hold gemstones but it doesn’t hold a strong grip so, it is not a good choice because they are often heavier than alloyed metal.
18 Karat Gold
18K gold is known for its shine, and bright yellow hue, and this is made up of 75% pure gold and 25% alloyed metals that make it more vivid than lower karats because it has a higher percentage of purity. Adding fewer alloy metals makes it an excellent choice for sensitive skin. 18K is more beneficial than 14K gold due to its higher amount of purity content. It gives a durable appearance, and 18K gold provides an excellent combination of beautiful jewelry and value. 18K gold jewelry does not need much care or maintenance just simply avoid harsh chemicals for example chlorine and bleach.
14 Karat Gold
14 karat (14K) solid gold is made up of 58.3% pure gold and 42% other metals known as alloyed. The content of gold with these alloyed metals makes it more stable and strength of the gold. 14-karat gold is the most popular for routine wear and gives you different types of color variations by adding different types of metals likewise Yellow Gold, White Gold, and Rose Gold. if you want to choose an engagement ring 14 karat is an excellent resistance to wear. 14 karat gold is less expensive than 18k,22k, and 24k because it have less purity of gold.
We have also shared a detailed article on Karat Vs Carat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Conclusion
Before buying gold consider the given information. As we have discussed, different types of gold and different karats of gold. Now we are hoping that you are aware of the all pros and cons of gold. Contact us if you have any queries we would love to help you.
