Here’s a detailed guide that will help you understand the difference between 24K, 22K and 18K gold:
24k gold
A 24 Karat gold is 100 per cent pure gold and does not have any other metal mixed. In the local market, it is known as 99.9 per cent pure and has a distinct bright yellow color. The 24 karat gold is more expensive than 22 or 18 Karat gold. It is soft and pliable and that is why not used in making regular forms of jewellery.
It is not possible to refine 100% pure form of gold. So when you see 24k gold, please check for exact purity of gold which can be either:
– 995 : 99.50% gold content
– 999 : 99.90% gold content
– 999.9 : 99.99% gold content
When you see a mark of 24k, please carefully check of % of purity as it will impact its price. For eg. market price of 99.5% pure gold is Rs. 50,000 per 10g, then price of 99.9% pure gold will be priced at Rs. 50,201 per 10 g (50,000 x 99.9 / 99.5)
The 24K gold is used to make coins, bars and is also used in electronics and medical devices.
22K gold
The 22 Karat gold is mostly used in making jewellery.
In 22K gold, 22 parts of the metal are gold and rest two comprises of metals like silver, zinc, nickel, and other alloys. It is also known as 91.67 per cent pure gold. Mixing alloys makes the texture of gold harder and hence jewellery becomes durable.
18K gold
The 18 Karat gold comprises of 75% gold mixed with 25% of other metals such as copper, silver, and other alloys. This type of gold is used to make stone studded jewellery and other diamond jewellery. It is less expensive compared to 24K and 22K gold.
All the gold coins, bars or jewellery has its purity marked into it. You should always buy jewellery that has Hall Mark and purity inscribed on them.
14K gold
The 14 Karat gold comprises of 58.5% gold mixed with 41.5% of other metals such as copper, silver, and other alloys. This type of gold is used to make stone studded jewellery and other diamond jewellery.
It is less expensive compared to 184K and 22K gold. There’s a huge gap in durability between 14k and 18k as the former will usually take much longer to show visible marks of wear and tear. This is why 14k gold is the best choice for anyone looking for the perfect balance in durability, price, and look.
However, it does have a few small disadvantages.
First, to some people, 14K gold isn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as 18K gold. Although it has a rich and impressive color, the appearance of 14K gold isn’t quite as strong as that of 18K gold due to its lower gold purity level.
Second, although it’s unlikely with either type of gold, 14K gold is slightly more likely to result in skin allergies than 18K gold. If your fiancé-to-be is allergic to silver, copper, nickel, zinc, or iron, this could be a point in 18K gold’s favor.
Conclusion
All the gold coins, bars or jewellery has its purity marked into it. You should always buy jewellery that has Hall Mark and purity inscribed on them.