Gold has been the inspiration for jewellery since the beginning of time. It's coveted for its gleaming beauty and strong yet malleable nature. Gold will not rust, corrode or tarnish.
Gold is measured in karats, abbreviated as the letter "K" and preceded by a number. 100% pure gold is 24K. However, in its pure form, gold is too soft to be used in jewellery. In order to give it resilience to hold up to everyday wear, gold is alloyed with other metals.
Gold is Available in a Variety of Different Karats
22 karat (91.7% gold)
While beautiful, it is really too soft for use in jewellery as the gold would literally bend out of shape. You will often see antique 22k gold jewellery in museums.
18 karat (75% gold)
Excellent for use in fine jewellery with a rich, deep color. 18K gold is a little softer than 14K and will usually wear a little more, giving it a soft patina.
14 karat (58.3% gold)
Great for use in traditional jewellery. This is a hard, resilient metal that will maintain much of its original look (polish and detail) for many years.
12 karat (50% gold)
We do not use nor recommend below 14k as the color is not an attractive, rich hue at this percentage.
10 karat (41.7% gold)
Although this is the minimum legal karatage allowed to be called gold in the US, we do not use nor recommend it for jewellery.
Info extract from Vivodiamonds.com
