Gold jewelry. Most of us own at least one piece that’s made out of some type of real gold, especially those of us who are pierced. For persons who have an allergy to certain metals or just prefer the look of the real thing, gold is an ideal option for both regular and piercing jewelry. Here’s why:
Solid gold is hypoallergenic, and all gold jewelry has a karat weight that tells you how much gold composes the item. Some of the standard karat weights of gold that you’ve probably heard of are 10kt, 14kt, 18k, and 24kt. Though other variations are used worldwide, these four make up the selection of karat weights most commonly used in jewelry. Each is a mixture of real gold and other metals, which common include copper and silver (both of which have an extremely low rate of allergic reaction), and reflects the individual needs of certain styles of jewelry.
For example: in body jewelry, 14kt and 18kt are most often used solid, while 24kt is generally used only for plating. This is because real gold is fragile, and since 24kt has the highest percentage of gold, it isn’t strong enough on its own for the wear and tear that commonly occurs on piercing jewelry. Because 14kt and 18kt have a little less gold, their composition affords them more durability.
As a general rule, the higher the karat weight of an item that’s solid gold (not plated over other metals), the higher the price. If you have two nose rings made from the same exact mold and one is 14kt gold while the other is 18kt gold, the value of the 18kt piece will be higher, because there’s more actual gold in it than in the lower karat weight item.
So now everything makes a little bit more sense, right?
