A Handy Guide To Selecting Gold Wedding Bands
To understand the difference between 14K and 18K gold, used for men’s white gold rings, you should understand the makeup of the metal. 24K is 100% pure gold. While pure gold is a very strong metal, it is also the most malleable. The extreme malleability and softness of pure gold make it practically useless in manufacturing jewelry. In order to be able to use it for jewelry applications, manufacturers mix gold with other metals to harden it. The difference between 14K and 18K is the amount of pure gold vs. the amount of other metals used: 24K = 100% Gold; 18K = 75% Gold and 25% other metal; 14K = 58.3% Gold and 41.67% other metal.
The other metals alloyed (melted, or mixed) with gold will change the color of the final metal, and this is how the color of yellow gold and white gold are achieved. The ratio of gold to other metals remains the same for yellow and white gold. Should I choose 14K or 18K gold for plain gold wedding ring? Below are the differences to help make your decision: 1. Scratch Resistance: The ‘other metals’ are harder than gold. So because 14K has a larger percentage of other metals than 18K, the 14K ring will be slightly harder and more scratch resistant than the 18K ring. Therefore, if you lead an active lifestyle, we recommend purchasing 14K gold. If you plan to wear your rings during activities such as gardening, cooking or athletics, the harder 14K ring would be more beneficial. If you work at a computer or take your rings off before any active use, you would be okay to choose an 18K gold ring.
Some of the popular rings include men’s white gold rings featuring cutely decorated elephants or dolphins. These rings are embellished with stones and may even come in a variety of colors like yellow, white and burnt orange. Another favorite with women of all ages and preferences is the gold rings set with stones. While some women prefer a single large stone at the center of a design, others go for a number of stones laid out decoratively to form a beautiful pattern. When combined with matching earrings and necklaces or pendants, these gold rings can really catch the eye and make others go green with envy. Most gold finger rings are available in 18k or 14k gold. These are durable because they contain enough quantities of alloy to ensure that the rings can withstand pressure and rough conditions. 14k gold is best for gem studded varieties. Since gold rings in 14k gold are relatively cheap, it is possible for people to buy different varieties of rings which they can mix and match as they wish.
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