The purity of gold is measured in karats. Pure gold is 24 karats, but it is too soft to be used in jewelry in its pure form. Therefore, gold is often mixed with other metals to increase its durability and strength. The percentage of gold in the alloy is indicated by the karat number. Gold comes in a variety of colors from yellow, rose and white.
18 karat gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of other metals, making it 75% gold. It is a popular choice for jewelry as it is still quite soft and has a rich yellow color, but is also durable enough for everyday wear.
14 karat gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of other metals, making it 58.3% gold. It is a popular choice for jewelry because it is less expensive than 18 karat gold and still has a decent amount of gold content, while being more durable than higher karat golds.
Rose gold is a type of gold that is alloyed with copper and sometimes silver to give it a pinkish-red hue. The higher the percentage of copper in the alloy, the more red the color of the gold will be. Rose gold is created by mixing pure gold with copper, which gives it its distinctive color. The copper also helps to increase the gold's durability and strength, making it suitable for use in jewelry.
White gold is a type of gold that is alloyed with white metals, such as nickel, manganese, or palladium, to give it a silvery-white appearance. White gold is created by mixing pure gold with one or more white metals, which help to give it its color and increase its durability. White gold is often used in jewelry because it has a bright, shiny appearance and is more durable than pure gold. It is also often plated with rhodium, a hard, white metal, to give it an extra bright finish and to protect it from wear and tear.
Gold filled, also known as rolled gold, is made by bonding a layer of gold to a base metal, such as brass. The gold layer must be at least 1/20 of the total weight of the piece. Gold filled jewelry is more affordable than solid gold jewelry and has a longer lifespan than gold plated items, as the gold layer is much thicker.
Gold plated jewelry is made by applying a thin layer of gold to a base metal, such as copper or silver. Gold plated jewelry is less expensive than solid gold or gold filled jewelry, but the gold layer is thin and can wear off over time, exposing the base metal underneath.
Vermeil is a type of gold plated jewelry that is made with sterling silver as the base metal. The gold layer must be at least 10 karats and be at least 2.5 microns thick. Vermeil jewelry is more expensive than gold plated jewelry made with base metals like copper, but it is more durable as the sterling silver base is more resistant to wear and tear.