DESIGN

Carribean-American jewelry designer Gina Feldman Love, who is the Co-Founder of Auvere, a handcrafted gold jewelry line (22k and 24k pure gold). It aims to bring the ancient beauty of pure gold to the mainstream, empowering women to buy pure, high-karat gold pieces that they love–and can also make for a good financial investment.

Below, Gina breaks down the pros and cons of 10k gold which is just 41.7% gold all the way up to pure 99.99% gold.

• 10 karat gold.  10 karat gold contains the lowest amount of gold that can be sold legally in the United States as “gold” — 41.7%.  Since it is mostly alloy, it has a silvery appearance and is highly susceptible to oxidation.    
  • Pro:  It costs less than some costume jewelry.  
  • Con:  With less than 50% gold content, it’s hard to call it real gold. It is not hypoallergenic, may trigger skin allergies and is very likely to oxidize and blacken over time.

• 14 karat gold.  14 karat gold is 58.3% gold. The remaining 41.7% consists of alloys such as copper and silver.  It’s probably safe to say that 14 karat gold is the most common rate of gold jewelry sold in the U.S. because it is very hard and relatively inexpensive due to the high alloy content.    
  • Pro: It is hard, holds pronged gemstones extremely well and is relatively inexpensive.
  • Con: It it is likely to suffer from oxidation and blacken over time. 14 karat gold may also trigger skin allergies. 

• 18 karat gold. 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy.  What makes 18K gold popular among jewelers is that it possesses a richer gold color than 14 karat gold because of higher gold content but is hard enough to hold gemstones in tiny “high-rise” prongs.  
  • Pro: 18 karat gold contains a sizable gold content, which makes it more lustrous than 14 karat gold. It holds pronged gemstones well and is used by top jewelers.
  • Con:  Because 18K is used by many top jewelers who charge margins in excess of  300% of the cost to make, you pay a lot more money for a lot less gold than you would if you purchased 22 and 24 karat gold from trusted direct-to-consumer brands.

• 22 karat gold.  22 karat gold is 91.67% pure gold. We love it because of its high gold content and delicious golden hue.  On top of that, 22K gold is strong enough to make everyday jewelry that holds gemstones (just not in prongs). 
  • Pro:  Almost 92 percent pure gold in every piece. Lustrous yellow color when compared to 14 and 18 karat gold.  Hard enough for every day use.
  • Con:  For those used to the subtle gold color in 14 and 18 karat gold, the deep yellow hue of 22 karat gold may be too much gold. But once you get used to the true color of gold, it is hard to go back.

• 24 karat gold.  24 karat gold is the big daddy of solid gold jewelry.  Containing 99.99% pure gold, it is incredibly precious, rare and soft when compared to 14 or 18 karat gold.  But it’s the rarity and softness that makes for very special jewelry — pieces that mold to your form over time.  If you are someone who never takes off your jewelry or you put your jewelry through its paces, then 24 karat gold may not be for you.  But if you love the idea of wearing something rich, rare, pure and with more inherent value than 14 and 18 karat gold, then consider 24K. 
  • Pro:  24 karat gold is the richest and rarest form of gold jewelry possible.
  • Con:  It is soft.  Not so soft that you can’t wear it. But soft enough that you have to take some care when you wear it.