18K or 14K Gold?
"What is the difference is between 18K and 14K gold?"
"Does one wear better than another?"
"Isn't one softer?"
We're often asked questions like these and hope the following information will and help you make the best choice for your custom made wedding bands or rings for any special and personal occasion. We're often asked questions like these and hope the following information will and Pure gold, also referred to as 24K, has many unique characteristics that make it valuable. For instance, it doesn't tarnish, it is non-allergenic, it is very malleable, it polishes to a mirror-like shine, it is rare, and it is highly valued worldwide. However, it is very soft and pliable in its pure 24K state and is generally considered to be unsuitable for wedding bands and other jewelry. As a result, Israel Blessing doesn't offer wedding bands made from 24K gold.you make the best choice for your custom made wedding bands or rings for any special and personal occasion.
In order to make gold jewelry that is durable and long lasting, gold is combined with other metals--called alloys--to make it stronger and change its color. Alloys add strength, but dilute the value of the gold and may cause jewelry items to eventually tarnish and/or cause allergic reactions.
In an attempt to achieve the best balance between the strength of alloys and the valuable and desirable properties of gold, three different degrees of karat gold combinations have become standard: 18K, 14K, and 10K. All three of these karat gold types are available in white gold or yellow gold. White gold alloys are typically stronger than yellow gold alloys, so a white gold ring will be slightly stronger and last a little longer than a yellow gold ring.
Israel Blessing offers different designs for Jewish wedding bands from both 14k and 18k, white or yellow gold, separate or combined. You can choose the style you want in the material you want!
18K Gold Wedding Bands contain 75% gold and 25% alloy. 18K gold is the softest and purist of the three karat gold types and is the most expensive because of its high gold content. It is typically used when a richer yellow color is desired. It is the most resistant to tarnishing of the karat gold types, and although it is the softest, it is still hard enough to be used for rings and wedding bands. 18K gold wedding bands will show wear marks sooner and wear out slightly faster than 14K, but they are still the preferred choice of those wanting something a little finer.
14K Gold Wedding Bands contain 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy. 14K gold is generally considered to be the ideal karat gold for rings and wedding bands because it is strong yet will not easily tarnish. Probably 90% of all the gold engagement rings and wedding bands sold in the United States--whether yellow gold or white gold--are made with 14K gold.
We hope this information will help you with your decision, but if you have additional questions please feel free to contact our customer service representatives. We'll be happy to help you choose the perfect ring!