Gold and its colors
When shopping for gold jewelry, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate the choices available on the market. Yellow, white or pink gold, 10k, 14k or 18k, all these options are available to us, but in the end, do you really know the differences?
Let's start by establishing that pure gold is rated at 24 carats (or 24K). A 10k gold jewel, regardless of its color, represents a pure gold rate of 10 out of 24, or 10 parts of pure gold for 14 parts of various alloys to ensure the hardness and elasticity necessary for the metal to counter the deformation of the jewel. In return, a 14k gold jewel therefore has 14 parts of pure gold for 10 parts of alloys. 10k or 14k gold jewelry represents a market share of 95% in Western countries. However, 18K gold, whose purity is 18 parts of pure gold for 6 parts of alloys, is more popular in jewelry because it preserves its stainless and non-allergenic qualities. The color of the metal is more pronounced, which makes it the most sought-after gold purity in oriental countries. If we summarize a little, we can also calculate everything in percentage. 18K gold is therefore made up of 75% pure gold and 25% alloys, 14K gold of 58.5% and 41.5% alloys and as for 10K gold, it is made up of 41.7% pure gold for 58.3% alloys.
Now that you know the differences between gold grades, let's talk a little about the color varieties that are found on the market. Since pure gold is too soft to be worn every day, the alloys with which it is mixed also affect its color. In fact, 10K yellow gold will be paler than 18K yellow gold. As for white gold, it is obtained through a judicious mixture of alloys such as silver and zinc used to whiten the dark yellow of pure gold. For rose gold, the preferred alloy that is added to pure gold is copper in the vast majority, with a tiny part of silver.
Here is a small table that shows you the percentages of gold and alloys for 18k gold, whether yellow, white or pink.
Silver, on the other hand, is a metal that is greatly appreciated for its malleability and lower price. However, just like gold, pure silver is much too soft to be worn every day. It is therefore associated with a mixture of alloys to ensure its durability. The purity of silver is therefore calculated as follows: 92.5% pure silver for 7.5% copper in the vast majority. This happy mixture has the consequence of making silver easy to oxidize when it is in contact with gases in the air, hence the reason why each piece of silver jewelry should be stored in a small plastic bag when it is not worn frequently!
Now that you see things a little more clearly, know that for the jeweler that I am, each piece of jewelry, regardless of its metal, allows me to discover wonderful stories linked to the memories that you carry through your jewelry.
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