Gold is an indispensable part of Indian culture. For us, it is both a luxury spending and an investment. Though almost every one of us grew up seeing gold in one type of jewellery or another, we still do not know much about gold jewellery shopping. – 22K and 18K Gold
When we plan to shop for gold, many questions come to mind. Of all the questions, the biggest question is this: what is a karat? And what is the difference between 24K, 22K, and 18K gold?
If you know don’t the difference, this guide is apt for you. Down below, we have explained all the minute differences between 24K, 22K and 18K gold. Let’s start with the basic question first.
What Is A Karat?
To put it simply, karat is a measure of the purity of gold. The higher the value of karat, the purer gold is. The highest value of karat is 24, and the lowest is 0. This means that 24K gold is the purest form of gold that you can buy.
The karat value of gold reduces when any other metal or alloy is mixed with gold. In its purest form, gold is very malleable. So, metals are added in small amounts to strengthen the gold and make jewellery, coins, or biscuits out of it.
Different Types of Gold: 24K, 22K, And 18K
The value of karat decreases when any other metal is added to gold. This way, gold can be 22K, 18K, or even lower than that. Down below, we have explained the three most common types of gold according to their karat value:
- 24K Gold: The purest form of gold is 24 karat. This is the reason why 24K gold is more expensive than 22K and 18K gold. This type of gold cannot be used for making jewellery as it is soft for that purpose. However, you can buy 24K gold for investment purposes. If you are thinking to buy 24K gold, hop over to this website and buy gold coins.
- 22K Gold: If the gold contains two parts of other metals such as copper or zinc and the rest 22 parts of pure gold, it is called 22K gold. Thanks to the metal part, 22K is stronger than 24K gold. Most people like to buy 22 karat gold coins because they are strong yet pure. 22K is also known as ‘916 gold’ because it contains 91.67% gold and the rest part other metals.
- 18K Gold: By now, you might have already guessed that 18K gold is 18 parts of gold to 6 parts of other metals or alloy. If counted in terms of percentages, 18K gold is 75% pure gold and 25% other metals. This type of gold is hard and durable enough that jewellers can make beautiful jewellery like bangles and rings out of it.
- Other Types of Gold: The list of types of gold doesn’t end at just 18K gold. You can also get 14K gold, 10K gold, and even 9K gold.
FAQs
Which gold should I buy – 18K, 22K, or 24K?
The selection of gold type should depend on your need. If you are looking for investment, 24K or 22K gold coin is right for you. However, if you want to buy gold for making jewellery, you should go with either 22K or 18K.
If 22K or 18K gold are not pure, should I really buy them?
Yes, other metals are added to gold but that doesn’t make the gold “impure”. High-quality metals are added to the gold only to make it strong and durable. So, if you want to get gold jewellery, you can buy 22K or 18K gold without any worry.
By now, you know all the differences between 24K, 22K, and 18K gold. What remains is buying some glittery gold.