Whether you’re buying a new piece of gold jewelry or the ring of your dreams, you’ll be considering which type of gold to get and which is the better choice for you. Join us as we explore the differences between 14k gold and 18k gold!
Anyone who has uttered the old adage, “All that glitters is not gold,” didn’t have a sparkly diamond attached to it! As beautiful as gold is, between colors and karats, it can be hard to comb through all the options. Read on to figure out which one is right for you.
What Is A Karat?K is for Karat and represents the purity of gold used in a piece of jewelry. (Not like carats – which are used when referring to diamonds. For this K, the higher the K, the purer the gold. But be careful; a higher K does NOT necessarily mean a better or nicer piece of jewelry.
In fact, there are multiple factors to consider when deciding what type of gold to use for what piece of jewelry. We will break down the difference between 14K and 18K gold. How does it affect the color, the piece, and if one is better than the other? Why or why not? (Spoiler alert? The answer is no!)
Read on to find out which gold and which “K” is right for you!
14K Gold vs. 18K GoldGold is the most popular metal used for all jewelry for a reason. It is strong, flexible, and in its purest form, soft. In order to make the metal usable for jewelry, an alloy (or a mix of metals) is added. Jewelers determine the amount of “K” by the amount of alloy present.
For example, 24K is pure gold and, therefore, too soft for jewelry and everyday wear. 24K gold easily dents and scratches and is simply too fragile for even the most careful jewelry expert. 18K and 14K, which still have a high ratio of gold but enough alloy to be workable, are the most popular choices for jewelers and purchasers.
The higher durability of 14K gold makes it an ideal choice for jewelry worn every day, for those with an active lifestyle, and for jewelry with intricate detail and added or placed stones, such as in gold engagement rings.
18K gold can be preferable for those with allergies or who are very sensitive to alloys since 18K is pure gold. 18K gold is also advantageous because although it is more delicate when it IS scratched, it does so in a way that appears vintage.
Is 14K Gold Or 18K Gold Better For Engagement Rings?So, is 14K gold better than 18K gold? The short answer is no. Each metal offers different advantages. Therefore the better metal depends on you. 14K gold might be a better choice if you are very active, whereas 18K gold can be better for more delicate pieces of fine jewelry.
The differences in appearance are often relatively minimal and a matter of personal choice; whichever karat you go with, you will surely shine!
Consider the following four factors when picking the right karat and color for your new piece of jewelry:
Rose gold is a gold that gets its soft pink color from a mixture of gold and copper. It is also available in 14K and 18K, and similar to its yellow and white counterparts.
It is a wonderful choice for engagement rings, wedding rings, and any other piece of fine jewelry.
Which Gold Is Best For Engagement & Wedding Rings?14K gold is the most popular choice for engagement and wedding rings. Whether yellow, white or rose, 14K’s mix of purity and durability makes it an ideal choice for these rings since they are geared for everyday wear. The affordability of 14K gold makes it a very popular choice for both engagement and wedding rings.
18K gold is also an excellent choice for engagement and wedding rings for those who prefer hypoallergenic metals, as 18K gold has more gold and less alloy.
Which Gold Is Best For Fine Jewelry?Both 14K gold and 18K gold work great for fine jewelry. 18K gold is often a popular choice for fine jewelry rings, as the color is considered more “true,” and its delicacy makes it ideal for pieces meant for special occasions.
So whether you want a gold ring you can wear to the gym every day, or you want a ring you can save for anniversaries and holidays, we have the metal and the ring for you!
What About Earrings, Bracelets, & Necklaces?Whether you prefer a more durable 14K or a more gentle 18K, white gold, yellow gold, or rose, James Allen has the right gold, at the right K, for any event.
Happy ShoppingAs you have probably guessed by now, the perfect gold for you depends on you. Whatever your needs, preferences, and budget, we at JamesAllen.com are here to help you make the best choice!
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Apples of Gold offers both 14k gold wedding bands and 18k gold wedding bands. The majority of our 14k gold wedding bands are sold to our American customers while most of our 18k gold wedding bands are sold to international customers, especially in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. But now and then there is a crossover which takes place and our U.S. based customers ask the question: “Which should I buy? 14k gold wedding bands or 18k gold wedding bands?”
There is no right or wrong answer, but understanding some of the key differences will help you determine which is the best fit for you. While this is not an article about the specific metal properties (for that, see our post: 14k gold vs. 18k gold), we will consider some of the reasons why you may opt to purchase a 14k gold band vs an 18k gold band:
Visual Appearance of 14K vs. 18K Gold
Visually, 18k gold appears slightly darker than 14k gold. The reason for this is due to the higher gold content in 18k gold vs. 14k gold. Since a 14k gold band is 14/24 parts gold and 18k gold is 18/28 parts gold, there are 4 more parts per 24 of gold in 18k. Gold is a dark yellow metal in its pure state. It is the other alloys mixed with jewelry that make it appear lighter, such as copper, silver, and other precious metal alloys. Therefore, the higher the karat, the darker the color. You will notice in some types of jewelry, such as 22k jewelry (often found in Indian jewelry, for example), the gold metal is much darker than both 14k or 18k gold.
With that being said, the difference is slight. Most people cannot visually tell the difference between 14k and 18k, until they put the same ring side by side. And in white gold, the difference is not noticeable, especially if the white gold ring is rhodium plated.
Durability of 14K vs. 18K Gold
Gold, by itself, is a fairly soft metal as far as precious metals go. It is a pliable metal, which makes it useful for jewelry, since it can be shaped and re-shaped into various forms and designs. That is one of the reasons that gold is so popular as jewelry metal.
As such, 14k gold will be slightly stronger and more durable than 18k gold. Wedding bands made of 18k gold will be slightly softer. However, do not let this deter you if you really prefer 18k gold. The difference, much like the color, is negligible. Quality wedding bands are thick enough to where it really makes very little difference in terms of durability between the two karats. But consider the type of work you do. If you are an avid gardener or lead a very active lifestyle or work frequently with your hands, for example, then opt for the slightly harder 14k gold. On the other hand, if you are an officer worker, a computer geek, or lead a somewhat sedentary lifestyle, then 18k gold will not be any less durable than 14k gold.
The only other point of consideration is the type of band it is. If your ring has a lot of finishes that may be damaged by wear and tear more readily, then perhaps 14k is the better choice.
Value of 14K vs. 18K Gold
One of the most overlooked consideration, but perhaps the most important, is how wearing 14k or 18k will make you feel. When customers call us with this question, we often ask them whether simply knowing that their ring is 14k or 18k makes a difference to them. Does simply knowing that there is more gold in your ring make the ring more valuable to you? Certainly there is monetary value in gold wedding bands and 18k is worth more than 14k gold. But you are not planning to sell your wedding band, so the “value” is more a question of personal perspective. How does knowing that you have a more valuable ring with more gold content make you feel? How important is this to you? As we mentioned earlier, many of our European customers prefer 18k because that is the norm in Europe, whereas most of our U.S. based customers opt for 14k because that is the norm in America. Choosing a 14k or an 18k gold wedding band is not only a question of monetary value, but social and personal value.
Budget
The final consideration comes down to cost and budgeting for your wedding. Obviously a 14k gold wedding ring costs less than an 18k gold wedding ring. On average an 18k gold band costs approximately 35% higher. This is a general estimate though and can vary significantly not only from jeweler to jeweler but also can vary based on the wedding ring’s design.
On average, an 18k gold band weighs approx. 15% more than a 14k gold band. But you have to also consider that not only is there more gold in an 18k gold band making the ring heavier, but 18k gold costs more than 14k gold. In addition, there are often additional labor costs in making 18k gold (at least in the U.S.), since most manufacturers don’t produce 18k as often as they do 14k. Here is an example of one of our best selling wedding bands in both 14k and 18k gold. See our: 14k white gold hammered wedding vs. our 18k white gold hammered wedding band (shown left) for a price comparison between the two. This is one of our most basic, but best selling wedding rings and can be a good indicator of variance in cost between most rings.
To learn more, be sure to visit our jewelry education guide for more jewelry articles and tips!
Category: Gold Jewelry, Jewelry Education, Wedding Bands, Wedding Jewelry, Wedding Rings