Gold Jewellery: Along with women, men are also fond of gold jewellery, however, while purchasing it, we often get confused as to how many carats of gold would be suitable for daily use. There are two options – 14-carat (14K) and 18-carat (18K).

These are considered best for daily wear or everyday use. 24 carat gold is soft. There is a fear of it bending or breaking, hence they are not considered suitable for daily use. 14-karat gold is stronger and more durable. At the same time, jewelry made of 18-carat gold is more suitable for showing style or wearing on special occasions.

What does the word ‘carat’ mean?

When we talk about gold jewellery, our focus is often on its shine and price. But, it’s equally important to understand what the markings on jewelry—like 14K or 18K—actually say. Actually, ‘Carat’ shows the purity of gold. The higher the carat number, the purer the gold is. By understanding this, you can easily decide which jewelery will be best for daily wear.

Pure gold is a very soft metal. There is more flexibility in this. If you wear a ring made of completely pure gold every day, it will soon get scratched and its shape may also deteriorate, hence jewelers add other metals to the gold to make it stronger and suitable for daily use. This mixture is called ‘alloy’. Simply put, the karat system tells how much pure gold is present in that particular alloy.

How pure is your gold?

24-karat gold is approximately 99.9 percent pure and its color is very dark yellow. In contrast, 18-karat gold contains approximately 75 percent pure gold. The remaining 25 percent consists of other metals—such as copper and silver—which are added to increase its strength and make it suitable for everyday use. 14-karat (14K) gold contains approximately 58.3 percent pure gold. It is stronger than 18-carat gold. However, the proportion of pure gold in it is less. In such a situation, these things must be kept in mind while purchasing jewellery.

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