Buying a piece of gold jewellery is exciting and a needed boost for whatever reason. Gold jewellery is generally not bought on an impulse and most of us like to sleep on the idea. Is the design right? Does it match my other pieces? But perhaps even more essential is choosing the right amount of carat. Gold is always indicated in carats. Before you head off to your favourite jewellery store to buy that gorgeous piece you’ve been longing for, it’s essential to understand what carat is. Once that is clear, the next question pops up: what carat is best to choose? We’ll tell you all about the differences between 9, 14, 18 and 24 carats of gold, so you can purchase your perfect piece of gold jewellery!
What does carat mean in gold?
The term carat is used in gold jewellery to indicate how much pure gold has been used. One carat stands for 1/24th part pure gold. The higher the carat number, the more pure gold the jewellery contains. A piece of 14 carat gold jewellery consists of 14/24th part pure gold, or 58.5%. Besides the number of carats, the percentage is also used to indicate the gold content in a piece of jewellery. In the case of 14 carat, you can speak of 585. The remaining part of the jewellery is completed with copper, silver or palladium, which called an alloy.
Discover the best offers on 14 carat gold jewellery
What are the different carats of gold?
Carat gold jewellery is available in various purities; 9 carats contain the least pure gold and 24 the most.
- 9 carat consists of 33.75% pure gold, also referred to as 375
- 14 carat consists of 58.5% pure gold, also referred to as 585
- 18 carat consists of 75.0% pure gold, also referred to as 750
- 20 carat consists of 83.3% pure gold, also referred to as 833
- 22 carat consists of 91.6% pure gold, also referred to as 916
- 24 carat consists of 99.99% pure gold, also referred to as 999
In the UK, 9, 14 and 18 carats are the most common purities of gold for jewellery. Mainly that is due to the properties that these amounts of carat offer, such as a beautiful colour and scratch resistance. But how do you know what carat you should choose when purchasing your new piece? We’ll tell you all about the differences between 9, 14, 18, and 24 carats!
Softness
Most people think that 24 carats or pure gold are the best since no metals have been added. However, that is not the case at all! Pure gold is very soft and vulnerable, which increases the risk of damage and deformation. Adding metals to pure gold, known as the alloy, reduces the chance of scratches, dents and distortion. Jewellery made of 24 carat gold is very rare and we don’t think you’ll ever come across one of these pieces. It’s better to opt for 9, 14 or 18 carat, especially if you want to enjoy your jewellery for years to come.
Colour
The higher the gold content in a piece of jewellery, the warmer the colour of the gold. A 24 carat gold piece of jewellery has a deep, warm yellow colour. With a 9 carat old piece, the colour is visibly less yellow. Both 14 and 18 carat gold still have a beautiful, warm yellow colour. The colour of 9 carat gold is usually seen as a disadvantage; it is considerably less yellow than jewellery with higher gold content.
Price of gold
Gold has always been expensive, but has gotten even pricier over the last years. The gold price is unprecedentedly high, meaning you can spend serious pounds on gold jewellery. In general: the higher the gold content, the more expensive the jewellery. A piece of 14 carat gold jewellery is expensive, but not unaffordable for many. Jewellery made of 9 carat gold is very popular; for a reasonable price you wear a nice piece of fine jewellery.
Discover the best offers for 9 carat gold jewellery
Skin reaction
A lower gold content can cause a skin reaction. If you’re allergic to the metal used in the alloy, you may react to it. Generally, that happens if the amount of gold is less than the alloy, which is the case with 9 carat gold jewellery.
Is 9 carat gold good?
Conversely, 9 carat gold contains a higher proportion of other metals and will tarnish over time. Having that said, there is a good reason to opt for 9 carat gold jewellery: it’s perfect if you’re on a budget. With some tender, love and care, it’ll last and look stunning as long as you do.
What carat gold is best?
The simple answer: 18 carat. It is purer, more durable and doesn’t tarnish. The downside is that 18 carat gold costs a lot more than 9 or 14 carat gold, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. There is no substitute for the luxurious, rich feel of 18 carat gold.
Discover the best offers for 18 carat gold jewellery
Carat gold and prices
The price of gold is at an all-time high and it's easy to spend hundreds of pounds on fine jewellery. Besides the amount of carat, other factors majorly influence the price of a piece of jewellery.
- The quality and weight influence the value of a piece of jewellery. A solid gold piece of 14 carat jewellery may be more expensive than a similar piece of 18 carat gold jewellery, but in a hollow form. Actually, the heavier the piece of jewellery, the more expensive it is.
- The design and labour costs also influence the price of gold jewellery. A detailed or complicated design requires more labour, which increases the price. That’s why a detailed design of 14 carat gold jewellery is more expensive than a simple design of 18 carat gold.
- The gold price influences the price of gold jewellery. The gold rate changes daily and the gold price vary daily.
What does gold plated mean?
Gold plated refers to jewellery with a thin layer of gold applied over the top of another affordable metal, like silver or copper. The process of gold plating is done by putting the economical metal in a chemical solution that contains gold and then applying an electric current to the piece. The electric current attracts the gold to the base metal and leaves a thin gold covering. Gold plating is a way to create affordable gold jewellery.
The thin gold covering maybe 14 carat gold, but that doesn’t mean that the gold plated piece of jewellery has the same properties as a solid gold piece. The gold coating will disappear in no time since the surface is copper or another metal. That process is accelerated if you wear your jewellery 24/7. Gold plated is an excellent choice if you want to wear a fashionable piece of jewellery. If you want to enjoy your jewellery for a long time, it’s better to opt for solid gold.
