Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
September 27, 2010
I know that one is supposed to be higher quality than the other, but I don't know which one. and I'd love for someone to explain the whole "k" thing to me in any event!
May 2, 2011
Yes, agreed on the 100K gold, you guys had me very curious as to whether or not it existed, it does not! 24K gold is the purest, but like the answer below says, it is not the best choice for jewelry pieces because of how soft it is. The softness of this metal means that it can easily be bent or scratched, thus often the gold used in jewelry is 14K.
December 14, 2010
What are you guys talking about?? The previous two responses are totally bogus.The only true thing said was that the karat of gold refers to its purity. But there is NO SUCH THING as 100k gold! The purest form of gold is 24k and it is very, very rarely used for jewelry because it is so pliable. This is why almost any gold jewelry you come across will be between 14k-18k. Where did you guys find this nonsense about 100k gold?
October 27, 2010
pure gold is 100k, but because it is so pliable, it is not ideal for jewelry. As such, they tend to mix it with other compounds to make it a little stronger. Basically the only difference is the metals that yellow gold is mixed with give it a golden color, while white gold is mixed with other metals that give it a white colour. Add the rhodium and voila, you have white gold.
September 28, 2010
The karat of gold refers to its purity. 24k gold is the purest form used for jewelry. Because pure 100k gold is so soft it cannot be used for jewelry. In appearance these levels of purity are not too visible, although a jeweler will probably be able to spot the difference between 14k and 14 k gold with the naked eye. 14k gold is the most popular for most jewelry, especially wedding bands, because of its lower cost, excellent appearance and durability.
