When we mention Karats in relation to metal, we're referring to the purity of that metal. Depending on the look you're going for your metal choice can differ. When we set diamonds, we want to make sure that the prongs are strong enough to withstand everyday wear without the fear of losing a stone or damaging your jewelry. We're gonna talk about the different kinds of precious metals, aftercare, and maintenance.
Gold
When gold is used in jewelry it is often combined with other metals. The purer the gold, the more valuable it is.
The purest gold is 24k, which has 99.00% gold with no other metals present. The main thing you should be aware of when buying 24k gold jewelry is the fineness. 24k gold is softer than lower-grade gold that is mixed with alloys making it more susceptible to damage.
The next purest gold is 18k. 18k gold has 75% pure gold, the remaining parts can be metal alloys like copper, iron, silver, or zinc.
The third is 14k gold. 14k gold has 58.50% pure gold and the remaining parts can be metal alloys like copper, iron, silver, or zinc.
The last option for gold is 10k. With the purity being 41.70% parts pure gold it's the lowest purity allowed to still be called gold. More than half of the metal is an assortment of alloys which makes it the most durable of all the gold purities.
Platinum
Platinum is the most favored precious metal in fine jewelry. It's least likely to tarnish and damage during wear than other metals. These characteristics also make it the recommended metal for makin grills.