2006-07-22 18:56:52 · 20 answers · asked by eeyore81701 1 in Beauty & Style ➔ Fashion & Accessories
The carat of gold indicates its purity. 24k is (essentially) pure gold. 18k is 75% pure, 14k is 58% pure, 10k is 42% pure.
Gold is a very soft metal. Pure gold is far too soft to use for jewelry, so it's alloyed with other metals to make it stronger. 18k is used for fine jewelry, but is not sturdy. 14k is very popular, and is a good balance of fineness and strength.
2006-07-22 19:05:19 · answer #1 · answered by Narplex 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
24 is almost pure gold. It is actually considered to be "pure" gold for legal standards. The next most pure is 18k. 14k is the most widely used purity for jewelry. Quite a number of years ago when gold reached then level highs, in price 12k and 10k became temporarily popular. 10k is the least pure. It is the lowest purity that call legally be called "gold". 10k and 12k can cause allergic reactions which higher standards of gold do not.
24k is the softest because it is the most pure. As nickel is added to it, it becomes less pure but becomes stronger, which in addition to cost, is the other reason for using less than 24k.
2006-07-22 19:16:40 · answer #2 · answered by lcmcpa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When some one says Gold is of 24K, it means it is completely pure gold without any mixture. When it is 10K, it means 10 out of 24 is pure gold, the rest is some additional material added to the gold. Of course, best option is always the 24K. That's why it is the most expnsive type.
2016-03-27 03:42:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the higher the number, the higher the % of gold. 24k is almost pure gold -- not practical. Gold is so soft, it is hard to keep it's shape in jewelry. many of my pieces are 14k. I have one ring that's 10K and it has kept well. the 18k bend very easily.
2006-07-22 19:00:48 · answer #4 · answered by Stormy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
24k is pure gold. 10k contains the second most gold, 14k has the third most, and 18k has the least.
2006-07-22 19:00:03 · answer #5 · answered by jhvjhg 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The more pure the gold...the softer it is...24K is easier to bend then 10K gold. Even though 24K is more pure, I don't reccomend it for that reason. I'm sure there are many other differences though.
2006-07-22 19:00:50 · answer #6 · answered by S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
24k if not 100%gold it's almost but has more gold,18k has less gold,14k even less gold , 10k has even less gold, how much percent i don't know, but the more gold it has the more money it costs,and the less gold it has the stronger it is.
2006-07-22 19:13:14 · answer #7 · answered by what is the good word? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pure gold does not have physical strength by itself and is soft in nature. To give it strength it is alloyed with metals like silver and copper. The alloy percentage of gold to other metal is given by the term carat or 'k' as we refer. 24k is the purest form of gold. To make is simple, when we refer to 18k of gold it means that if you had 24 grams of gold then it would have 18 grams of pure gold alloyed with other metal of 6 grams. Lower the k value less is the gold metal content in it.
2006-07-22 19:21:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the less 10k is only 10% gold the other 90% is other metal alloys
24k is about 70% gold and 30% alloy
2006-07-22 19:01:10 · answer #9 · answered by nealingwolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the amount of gold in the item 10k lower but is much stronger then 24k gold which is softer and easier to bend etc...
2006-07-22 18:59:37 · answer #10 · answered by Schmitz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋