Pure gold is a soft metal that tends to bend and scratch very easily, so because 10-carat gold has the most alloys, it is more durable (less soft) than 14-karat gold. In addition to its lower price, 10-carat gold is slightly more durable than 14-karat gold. Because it is made of a smaller amount of pure gold and a greater amount of more durable alloy metals, this type of gold is more resistant to scratches, scuffs, dents and other common damage. Although the lower gold content of 10-carat jewelry may make people think that they are of poor quality, this alloy is actually harder than 14-karat gold and may be more durable, making it an attractive option for those looking to make an Investment in Gold.This type of gold is not often used in jewelry, although 24-carat gold jewelry is occasionally used as an investment or heirloom in certain parts of the world.
Some people find that 10-carat gold looks whiter and want to choose cleaner gold because of its appearance. All of these advantages have made 14-carat gold the most popular type of gold for engagement rings, accounting for about 90% of all engagement rings sold in the U.S. The U.S., the United Kingdom and other Western countries are made with 14-carat gold. For example, James Allen and Blue Nile, two of the biggest online engagement ring sellers, don't offer 10-carat gold rings.
The purity of gold is measured in carats, and the highest number of carats is 24 K, which is the carat of pure gold. While 14-carat gold is slightly more expensive than 10-carat gold, it's still a very affordable metal for an engagement ring or other jewelry. For example, many people are allergic to nickel, which is commonly added as an alloying metal to gold used for jewelry. Since this metal contains a higher percentage of 10-carat gold (compared to higher carat alloys), 10-carat items are more likely to cause skin irritation and other symptoms in people with a nickel allergy.
Obviously, if you're sensitive to nickel, you should reconsider 10-carat gold and opt for 14-karat gold, or a composite with a higher carat. Pure gold is also extremely bright, with a color closer to bright orange than to the deep, warm gold color that most people associate with fine jewelry. Despite its advantages and popularity, 14-carat gold has some minor weaknesses that should be considered. The next purest gold is 18-carat gold, which contains 18 of 24 parts of gold, and 14 and 10 carats follow the same standards.
Although 10 carat or 14 karat gold cannot be said to be better in all aspects, there are cases in which one is preferable to the other. If you're buying an engagement ring, earrings, necklaces or other gold jewelry, you've no doubt noticed that there are several different types of gold to choose from.
