Mathematically, 14k white gold contains about 58% pure gold and 42% silver and nickel alloys while 18k white gold contains about 75% pure gold and 25% silver and nickel alloys. As you’ve learned, 18k white gold appears to be brighter and whiter than 14k white gold, and maintains its luxurious appearance without the necessity of being rhodium plated. Since rhodium is so expensive and rare, it is rarely used to make into a solid jewelry piece. You might see 14K jewelry that doesn’t look much different from an 18K piece. If engagement rings, earrings and other jewelry were made using pure gold, they’d scratch, scuff, dent and warp extremely easy, often just from brushing against another surface. One karat contains 1/24 pure gold (about 4.17% pure gold). 14K vs. 18K White Gold: A Side by Side Comparison. 18K gold’s biggest advantage is its purity. As a general rule, the lower the karat of gold, the harder the alloy is. New York NY 10036 Learn How to Calculate Diamond Prices So You Don't Get Ripped Off & Overpay. At the end of the day, the jewelry design staff of Brian Gavin Diamonds prefers 18k white gold to 14k white gold, because it provides an end product which looks and feels more luxurious, because it has a higher gold content, and it requires less maintenance to look its best, thus you will get more enjoyment out of your ring, and spend less time at the jewelry store having it cleaned and polished. Difference between Silver and Sterling Silver, Difference between Real Gold and Fool’s Gold (Pyrite), Difference between Cast Iron and Wrought Iron, Difference between Seltzer, Club Soda, and Tonic Water, Difference between a Broiler, Fryer and Roaster Chicken, A gold alloy with 58% gold in the composition, A gold alloy with 75% gold in the composition, Needs to be treated with rhodium to be extra bright and white, As a material for jewelers, it is cheaper, As a material for jewelers, it is more expensive, Is hard and resistant; does better with oxidation over time and needs less maintenance, Not a good fit for people with metal allergies, Difference between 14k and 18k White Gold. Continuing from our previous blog post comparing 14k and 18k Rose Gold, we’d like to now compare the difference between 14k and 18k white gold. Pure 24 karat gold has a bright yellow color and is relatively soft, so it is often used in coins or bars. 14k gold has about 58% gold in the alloy, while 18k gold has 75% gold in the alloy. Not only will it be more durable than an 18K ring, but it will also cost slightly less while still looking absolutely stunning. This is a durable combination of metals, resulting in a high quality product. What makes them different from each other? Open by Appointment Only. While it’s pureness is desirable, its softness doesn’t make it ideal for jewelry. Because 14K gold contains less pure gold, it is harder than 18K gold. The purity of this gold is measured using the karat system, which provides information on what percentage of any type of gold is made up of pure gold. The image below you can see the color difference between a 99.99% pure gold coin and a solid 14k rose gold band. 14K gold is popular for a reason: for most people, it’s the best choice. We truly appreciate your wonderful support during this uncertain time. The next step will be where the white in white gold really comes to light. 14k white gold is a popular choice for diamond engagement rings; however the reason might simply be because it is a popular choice among jewelers, simply because 14k white gold is less expensive than 18k white gold or platinum. Pure gold is soft and does not have a firm grip on the stone setting, so typically the less of it in the metal the stronger it will be. 14-karat gold and 18-karat gold are similar in that they are both alloys. However, experts say that the yellow color of 18k gold is more rich and vivid than in 14k gold. Jewelers seem to prefer 14k gold for engagement rings, mainly because the combination of metals and less gold makes the material better suited for stone settings. It is almost impossible to tell the difference between 14k gold and 18k gold just by looking at them. Both are gold alloys and both contain gold that needs to be treated to become stronger and to turn from yellow to white. How to Calculate the Value of Scrap Gold -, How to Choose the Right Gold Wedding Band -, More vivid than 14k gold, duller than 24k. Nickel is sometimes used in gold alloys, and it is found in greater concentration in lower-karat gold. 14K white gold has 14/24 parts of gold, which corresponds to 58,3% gold. translation missing: en.general.search.submit. Blue Nile Reviews: Are They Really Cheaper? The most popular style of 14k white gold engagement ring is definitely our standard four prong solitaire, and six prong solitaire settings. Both are always less expensive than 24k gold and platinum.The value of 14k gold is calculated by multiplying its pennyweight by .583, dividing the current spot gold price by the number of pennyweights per ounce, and then multiplying the two values together.The value of 18k gold can be calculated by multiplying the pennyweight by .750 and then following the same steps as above. Do H&A Diamonds Look Dark in Direct Sunlight? As you can see, now both white gold rings have that signature white color that white gold lovers adore. K stands for karat (not to be confused with carat, which is the weight measure for gemstones) and refers to the percentage of gold in an alloy. Diffen LLC, n.d. We want our customers to have the ring of their dreams, which is why our rings are made to order in your choice of 14k or 18k yellow, rose, or white gold or platinum. Another argument for why jewelers prefer 14k white gold is that it is less expensive than 18k gold, yet the price difference between the completed jewelry is not that big so they may command a bigger profit. So, if you are looking for a more affordable piece of jewelry, a 14-karat piece will likely be cheaper than an 18-karat one, all else being equal. First, it’s affordable. However, experts say that the yellow color of 18k gold is more rich and vivid than in 14k gold. Diamond Prices on the Rise: What This Means For Me, White Gold vs. Because pure gold makes up 58.3% of the metal content of 14K gold, an engagement ring made from 14K gold will usually cost slightly less than the same ring made from 18K gold. Is 14k rose gold a good choice for jewelry. Don’t be alarmed by the yellowing of your white gold ring over time though, since this is a great way to assure you we at La More Design use real, solid gold in our jewelry. One of the reasons why 18k white gold looks better than 14k gold is because it has a higher gold content; the gold content of a 14k white gold ring is 58.3% gold, and 41.7% other metals that are used to change the color of the gold from yellow to white, as well as make the ring more durable, because pure gold is extremely soft and thus is not suitable for jewelry items which are worn every day. As it is less resistant than 14k gold, it shows marks after less rough use. Because of this, modern gold jewelry uses gold that’s mixed with other metals. People with nickel allergies must double–check the composition of the alloy, however. If you are looking for durability, 14K gold is better in this regard and is the recommended choice for jewelry that you will wear often. If you suffer from metal allergies, platinum is probably the best option since it is totally hypoallergenic. 18K white gold is the most expensive compared with 10K and 14K gold. Looking for a 3 Stone Ring with a 1ct Center Stone and Two 0.20ct Pear Side Stones, Three Stone Engagement Rings for that Unique, Special Moment. Director of Marketing for the best Diamonds Online. These solitaires are the most popular style of 14k white gold engagement ring. To illustrate: 24K gold is 100% pure, 18K contains 75% gold and 25% alloyed metals, and 14K is 58% gold and 42% alloyed metals. Both are always less expensive than 24k gold and platinum. The Prices of 14K and 18K Gold. As of today Dec 19th, 2018, Rhodium is currently trading at $2,325 an ounce compared to gold at $1,252 an ounce and silver at $14.73 an ounce. This means that the purer a gold engagement ring is, the easier it becomes to scratch it on door frames, desks, tables, the ground and other surfaces. However, it’s also common for certain engagement ring settings to come in 18K gold. The price of gold jewelry varies, but as 18k contains more gold than 14k, it is always more expensive.