24K vs 22K vs 18K – Major Differences, Pros, and Cons | Gold Purity Guide

Gold is a transition metal, carrying malleable and ductile elements and a single gram can be beaten into a one square meter sheet of gold leaf. Gold characteristics making it popular and around the world, it has superior demand and expensive though varying in karat.

What is Karat? Generally, karat is the term used to measure the purity of gold. And the gold purity classification is categorized in three different karat terms i.e. 24K, 22K, and 18K.

Whereby, 24K affiliated yellow metal ornaments are classified as the most purer gold carrying 99.9% purity with it. This also means there are no other alloy or combination of the metal with gold presented.

In this blog, crave to learn about gold purity and how to choose to purest gold, we have made a comprehensive blog for you where we discuss differences, pros, and cons of all forms of gold karat along with gold purity tips that help you in shopping for perfect gold jewelry.

24K Gold – Overview

24K gold, in other words, 24 Karat gold or yellow metal is one of the purest forms of gold available in the global market. The 24K gold demonstrates its magnificent purity with around 99.9 per cent and all 24 parts in the gold are all pure gold without traces of any other metals.

Thus, by this, it is so expensive, currently, 1gram 24k gold price is around INR 4800 almost 65.7 USD. There is no highest form of gold purity or gold measure in karat other than 24K. If you’re shopping for pure gold jewellery this is one you should approach for along with all purity certificates and marks.

Great attention of care is needed if buying 24K yellow metal jewelry because of its high softness and pliable characteristics. Mostly, going light back to the ancient times of Rajas and Maharajas, their coins and bars are mostly bought of 24K gold purity.

Nowadays, 24K gold is supremely used in electronics and medical devices such as children suffering from ear infections who are fitted with gold tympanostomy tubes.

Pros and Cons of 24K

24K gold is brilliant in colour thus you would precisely observe warm lustrous. Also, it contains 100% gold which makes it slightly more valuable than jewelry of the same weight but lesser purity. Besides it needs great care and attention to store it can break and is scratched easily.

22K Gold – Overview

22Karat gold is slightly lower purer than 24K gold as it contains 91.67 per cent gold and the other 8.33 per cent comprises metals like silver, zinc, nickel, and other alloys. But makes solely stronger and durable than 24 Karat gold jewelry. Also, this kind of gold mixture is commonly used in jewelry making.

Buying jewelry affiliate 22k gold is a good option for attending weddings, going to ritual events, etc. The prices commercially are lower compared to 24K pure gold.

Pros and Cons of 22K

Compared to 24K pure gold, it has 91.67% of gold having lesser price as a good sign for middle-class people to buy. Comprises other metallic characteristics make the texture of gold harder thereby making the jewellery durable. It has no bad side if we have seen its purity mark considerable for good.

18K Gold – Overview

18K gold indulges 75 per cent of gold and 25 per cent of other metals like copper or silver etc. Generally, studded jewelry and other diamond jewelry is made in 18K gold. Besides, the commercial price is seen as lower or less expensive compared to 24K and 22K.

Pros and Cons of 18K

These are gradually more durable and heavy compared to 22K and 24K gold. Having less price marked for 18K gold, which is also good for people to buy gold jewelry made with 18K fineness and purity. Besides, This one has a slightly dull gold colour which ultimately fails to deliver the pure gold suspicion

Difference Between Forms of Gold Karat (24K, 22K, and 18K)

Basis 24K 22K 18K
Purity Percentage 99.99% of Gold 91.67% of Gold 75% of Gold
Expensive It is more expensive It is less expensive than 24K It is precisely expensive than both 24K and 22K
Nature Soft and Pliable Harder and Durable Heavy, Harder, and Durable
Investment Consideration Used in investment for its appreciation in value Used rarely in the investment NA
Color Bright yellow in colour Color changes based on the type of alloy used Colour changes based on the type of alloy used
Jewelry Making It is seldom used in the making of jewelry because of its softness It is mostly used in making jewelry. It is also widely used in making jewelry.
Fineness It has 1.000 It has 0.9166 It has 0.875

Coloured Gold: Various Colors of Gold

Talking about pure gold it has a brilliant red-yellow lustrous colour and also observed as a sign of gold purity. While moving to other gold forms usually 22K and 18K gold marked with a variety of colours. Those are –

Pink or Rose gold – Pink gold is made by adding more copper in the compound synthesis of the gold

Green Gold – Gold is given a green tone by adding a greater amount of zinc and silver

White Gold – the white shade of gold is accomplished by adding nickel or palladium

In case walk to a jewelry shop or brought gold ornaments online, you must give preference to some crucial points before making gold jewelry shopping.

How To Buy A Pure Gold? Tips for Gold Buyers

And those are –

  • 24 karat = 99.5% pure gold and above
  • 22 karat = 91.7 % gold
  • 18 karat = 75.0 % gold
  • 14 karat = 58.3 % gold
  • 12 karat = 50.0 % gold

10 karat = 41.7 % gold

Conclusion: Easy To Understand

For easy understanding, we have simply breakout some important preferences to the eye. 24 karat gold contains 24 sections of unadulterated gold. 22 karat gold contains 22 sections of gold and 2 pieces of different metals added as an amalgam. 21 karat gold contains 21 sections of gold with three pieces of different metals added. 18 karat gold contains 18 sections of unadulterated gold with 6 pieces of different metals added. In the West, the karat is communicated in fineness.

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