18 karat gold is transformed into contemporary, wearable gold
jewelry. If you’re on the hunt for your next piece of gold jewelry
you may be wondering what this type of gold actually is. We walk
you through what is meant by gold karats, the features of 18 karat
gold, and the differences between the different karats.
What are Gold Karats?
A gold karat refers to how pure the gold is. Gold is made up of
24 parts, and so 24 karat gold refers to 100% purity. Whilst 18
karat gold is made of 75% gold parts and 25% alloys. These alloys
can be a range of other metals, including silver, copper, and
nickel. Each karat has its own benefits and uses, with the lower
karats being more durable than pure gold itself.
What Can 18 Karat Gold be Used for?
High quality gold jewelry is often crafted from 18 karat gold,
due to its high level of purity. This can include everything from
gold rings to gold necklaces. The high precious metal content in
18 karat gold also means it is more hypoallergenic than lower karat
types and so is unlikely to cause irritation to the skin. A lot of
jewelers mark their 18 karat pieces with a small stamp that denotes
’18k’ or ’18kt,’ making it easily identifiable.