What Is 18ct Gold?
At Auric Jewellery, we create our jewellery with either 18 carat gold (18k Gold) or also commonly known as ‘solid gold jewellery’. Our fine jewellery is not plated, filled or layered with vermeil (2.5micron layer of gold).
We can proudly say 99% of our jewellery is made with 18ct solid gold so you do not need to worry about it tarnishing – some pieces are ever so special which we love wearing everyday, everywhere.
We get lots of questions about 18ct solid gold jewellery, we would like to break these down for you, so you can better understand the jewellery you wear everyday.
What is Gold and how is gold measured?
To understand what is 18ct gold, let’s begin with understanding what solid gold is. Gold is an alloy which is commonly found in rivers, tunnels, minning.
Gold is measured in numerical values followed by karats (k) or carts (ct). The carat or karatage is the value which tells us what the percentage of the pure gold your jewellery contains.
Purest gold is made up of twenty-four parts ( 24 carts / 24k) which is 99.99% pure gold. However, pure gold is too soft to use to make jewellery from. For this reason, other alloys are mixed to pure gold to give strength and structure (not forgetting to create different gold colours – white gold and rose gold). Once combined, the material is known as ‘solid gold’ or ‘yellow solid gold’ hence don’t get this confused with gold filled, vermeil or plating).
Let’s break down elements of what is 18ct gold for you.
To make jewellery 24 parts of mixed alloys is required meaning 100% alloys are required. If you look at pure gold in 24 parts which is seen as 999. gold, from there 18 parts of pure gold is placed in an element along with 6 parts other alloys to give it strength.
A little maths breakdown for you
75% pure gold ( 18 parts of real gold)
25% of other alloys such as silver (6 parts of silver, platinum, copper)
This will equal to 100% jewellery = 18ct Gold Jewellery
Higher the carats or Kt in your gold jewellery more pure gold it will have and sure to be more valuable.
How do you tell if 18k gold is real?
18ct or 18k jewellery which is made from pure gold of 18 parts should be stamped with a number ‘745’ and hallmarked from assay office in the UK. This assures the purity of the gold in the jewellery is 18parts and nothing else.
Gold jewellery over 1g must have a assay office hallmark, the hallmark consist of three marks ; one the markers mark, second 750 stamp and lastly the assay office who validated the jewellery.
Can you wear 18ct gold every day and would it tarnish?
You can absolutely wear 18 carat jewellery every day, the reason being higher the gold content in this case 18ct solid gold jewellery has 18 parts of pure gold would mean;
• Very unlikely it would react to lotions and creams and cause reaction to the skin.
• Made with 18k solid gold also mean it will not tarnish or corrode like plated 18k, 18ct vermeil or 18 carat gold filled jewellery.
• Much more durable and less likely for to be scratched or marked.
• Also, the pure gold is very valuable in these fine jewellery pieces.
‘Would your 18k gold jewellery made from 75% of pure gold tarnish?’ the simple answer will be ‘NO’ – pure gold jewellery is not like vermeil, plating or plated gold jewellery which will tarnish.
