Gold is known to make beautiful jewelry pieces with an attractive luster that doesn’t tarnish over time. Unfortunately, it is a very soft metal that needs to be molded with other metals to become more durable. As a result, you will find different gold alloys, identified by carat.
When buying gold jewelry, you often ask yourself which carat to choose. They are usually between 9k-24k gold. However, the most common carat number is 10k-18k gold jewelry. However, in this post, we will focus on discussing and comparing 10k gold and 14k gold to determine which one is better.
What Is a 10k Gold Chain Made Of?
In most countries, 10k gold is considered the lowest karat gold. However, in countries like Europe or Ireland, you can find 9k gold. As for 10-carat gold, this means that 10 parts of the gold alloy are pure gold, and the remaining 14 parts are made from other metal alloys.
In percentage terms, 10k gold contains about 42% pure gold and 58% other metal alloys.
Common metals in other metal alloys are copper, zinc, platinum, silver, and palladium. Sometimes you will find traces of nickel. Depending on the metal mixture used, the color of gold may vary. Common colors generally include gold, white gold, and rose gold.
White gold is a mixture of gold and white metals such as silver (47.4%), palladium (10%) and zinc (0.9%). Sometimes it may contain traces of nickel.
Gold contains a mixture of zinc or silver (52%) and copper (6%) as well as pure gold.
Rose gold, on the other hand, contains mostly copper （38-58%）， but may contain silver （20%） in addition to pure gold.
Advantages and Disadvantages of 10k Gold Chains
10k gold contains more metal alloys than pure gold. Therefore, it is one of the lowest purity types of gold. This fact is the reason behind its biggest advantages and disadvantages. Here are its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
- This one is cheaper. Due to its lower gold content, it is not the purest form of gold and therefore has a lower value. This means that you can buy it cheaper than high-carat gold.
- It is more durable. Gold is a soft metal, so it can be easily scratched. Since 10k gold contains more metal alloys than gold, it is harder and therefore more durable.
Disadvantages
- It has a lower value. Due to its lower purity, 10k gold has a lower resale value. This means that if you resell it, it will be difficult to get a lot of money from the gold it contains.
- It reacts more easily with the skin. Due to the higher content of other metal alloys, there is a higher likelihood of skin reactions due to trace amounts of nickel or other reactive metals.
- It has a poor luster. 10k gold has a lower gold content, which means it has a duller appearance compared to high-karat gold. The high metal alloy content also means that it will lose its luster faster and thus its attractiveness faster.
What Is a 14k Gold Chain Made Of?
14k gold is the most commonly used type of gold when making gold jewelry, especially engagement rings. 14-carat gold is composed of 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts various metal alloys.
The percentage is approximately 58% pure gold and 42% other metal alloys. That’s the opposite of 10k gold.
However, as with 10k gold, commonly used metals are silver, nickel, zinc, palladium, copper, and platinum.
Similarly, mixing different metals with 14k gold yields three common colors. They are yellow, rose and white gold.
In addition to 58% pure gold, white gold contains a mixture of white metals such as silver (31%), zinc (0.6%), and palladium (10%).
It may also contain trace amounts of nickel, often rhodium-plated to prevent discoloration. Rose gold contains an equal amount of pure gold, almost completely mixed with copper (38%-42%).
Sometimes, it may contain a little zinc (4%) to reduce the reddish hue of copper and give it a more rosy color. As for white gold, other metal alloys used are copper (4%) and zinc (38%).
Advantages and Disadvantages of 14k Gold Chains
Like 10k gold, 14k gold has a higher gold content, which is both its greatest advantage and its biggest disadvantage. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of 14k gold:
Advantages
- It has the best balance of content. This means that of all carat gold, 14K gold has the best balance of gold with other metals. As a result, it has the best balance of durability and purity.
- It’s valuable. Since it contains more gold than any other metal, it is purer compared to 10k gold. Therefore, it has a better resale value.
- It reacts less with the skin. Less content of other metal alloys means that 14K is less likely to react with the skin. This means that it is less allergenic than gold of 10k or less.
- It has a more attractive sheen. This is compared to low karat gold because it contains more gold than other metals. This means that it is also less likely to change color quickly.
Disadvantages
- Slightly more expensive. Compared to 10k gold or less, 14k gold is purer and therefore more valuable. Therefore, it costs more to buy 10k gold jewelry compared to 14k gold.
- It is not very durable. Although 14k gold has a perfect balance, its gold content is still higher than that of metal alloys. Therefore, it is less durable and easier to scratch than 10k gold.
Color Difference Between 10k and 14k Gold
Whether it is 10k gold or 14k gold, the three common colors of gold are yellow, white, and rose.
However, the ratio of gold to other metal alloys affects the strength and richness of the color. This is where 10k gold and 14k gold differ in color.
The more gold in the alloy, the richer and more intense the color produced. Not only does 14K gold have a higher gold content than 10K gold, but it is also usually made of more gold than metal alloys. 10K gold, on the other hand, is made from more metal alloys than gold.
So, logically, 10K gold will have a more intense color compared to the dull and pale color of 14K gold. This is mainly because other metal alloys tend to tarnish their luster, while gold retains its color and luster.
10k Vs 14k Gold Chain, Who Wins？
However, purely based on the properties of gold alloys, 14k gold seems to have an advantage.
It has a better appearance, is less allergenic and does not tarnish easily. It also has a better resale value if you choose to sell the chain later.
Although it is less durable, it has a better balance between durability and purity. This is not the same as 10k gold, which sacrifices purity for durability.
Following this logic, 14k gold seems to be the better chain, albeit slightly more expensive.
However, price is a matter of personal ability and preference. So, in the end, it’s up to you to decide according to your preferences.
Conclusion
When choosing 10k and 14k gold, consider their cost and characteristics. Also, consider what the jewelry is used for and how often it will be used.
Keep in mind that it depends on your budget and whether you want value or durability.