Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
January 10, 2010
I would love for someone to explain to me the exact difference between a low karat and a high karat gold band. Is there a favorable karat value when it comes to buying a present? I wouldn't want to disappoint my wife by getting her a gold karat value that is below standard.
January 18, 2010
As the K weight of the gold becomes higher so does the gold's purity. The higher the K weight the purer the gold. Pure gold is softer than alloyed gold mixed with silver or nickel thus a higher K weight would mean a softer metal, susceptible to scratches and dents. If your wife is clumsy or prone to accidents I would suggest buying gold jewelry with a lower K weight and avoiding unwanted damages. Also, the higher the karat weight of the gold the more its value will rise. If you are inclined to buy high karat gold jewelry be prepared to pay considerably more than you would for low karat gold jewelry.
January 17, 2010
To the naked eye, you won't be able to tell the difference between a higher karat valued gold and a lower one. So in terms of appearance, it really doesn't matter if you go for gold jewelry that is less pure. However, I still suggest that you'll buy your wife solid gold (which is at least 10 karats) because if you were to get anything less than that, your gold jewelry will actually contain a higher percentage of inferior metals than gold itself. I think that the ideal karat value to go for in terms of jewelry is probably 14 karats or 18 karats. If you select these types of gold, not only will they be cheaper than other more purified gold jewelry, but also less prone to wear and tear (the higher percentage of gold means that the jewelry actually becomes softer and more easily scratched). Also, 14k or 18k gold jewelry will have a sufficient amount of gold in their composition. Personally, I'd go for 14 karats because it's much cheaper than 18 karats gold, and just as pretty.
January 17, 2010
The advantage of purer high karat gold jewelry is that it is less likely to cause allergic reactions. It is also considered to be a better investment, since gold is a very strong investment and can always be metled down and reformed. However, if you are the klutzy type of person,you might want to consider a lower karat gold band. The more metal the gold is alloyed with, the stronger it is. White gold is not only an alloy, but it typically has a special finish as well that helps protect it from scratches and dulling. This might be your best bet.
