When we think of gold, we always assume it’s all solid gold, especially in the case of jewellery items. Reality is just the opposite of it. Gold carries many types depending on purity level; 24k,22k,18k,14k, and 10k. All these varieties possess a different gold content, which alters their practical life uses. Here, we will shine the spotlight on 18k gold, a much-in-use gold type.

What is 18K gold?

To define 18k gold, we should first know that the purest form of gold is 24k, meaning it has 24 out of 24 parts as pure gold with no other metal intermixing. This type of gold is most valuable and incredibly soft with its much sought-after traditional yellow gold colouring. 24k gold is an ideological figure, mostly. It is not favourable for everyday use.

So, we get 18 karats of gold, 18 out of 24 parts of gold, and the other 6 consists of metals like zinc, copper, nickel, etc. If 75% pure gold content or 750 figure on the Millesimal scale gets mentioned, it means 18k gold. Similarly, the list of gold variations keeps moving forward with 14k and 10 k gold items. This gold’s pros and cons compared to other gold types are mentioned below.

Pros

• Affordable gold items.
• High-quality gold plating keeps the jewellery in its original shape.
• 18k jewellery looks great with lovely combos of 18k gold and metals. 

Cons

• 18k gold pieces get tarnished with time due to base metal usage at the root.
•  Such gold may leave colour on your skin due to its metallic alloy presence.

The Primary Use of 18K Gold

The purest gold, 24k, is unpractical in terms of usage due to its highly malleable nature and not to forget the high expenses required. It is also really bright yellow in colour in its purest form, which the general population doesn’t like much in their jewellery. The more the value of the metallic alloy portion in a gold item, the more chances of its degradation exist in a shorter period. That’s why 18 karat gold comes nicely between the 24k and10 k gold with its 25% alloy portion. It is mainly used to create jewellery items such as pendants, rings, and chains because of its better durability than pure 24k gold. 

The point to note here is that 18k gold items with 75% pure gold are preferred to the purest gold of 24k for designing different jewellery.

If we move downwards, 14k gold has 58.3% gold content and is best for bangles or earrings that are more frequently used. With its many non-gold alloys, this gold category makes up a firm and solid gold substitute for 24k pure form. 

Similarly, 10k gold has 10 out of 24 parts gold with a 41.7% gold content. It is affordable and durable, but other metals can cause skin allergies to the wearer due to their high concentration, like nickel, copper, zinc, silver, or iron.

Let us boil down to the real question, whether 18k gold is real or fake?

18 Karat Gold, Fake or Real?

As 18k gold carries a 25% metallic content, it can confuse whether it’s real gold.

But it is real gold with a 75% gold portion. Just because a gold layer gets put on a metallic surface, thick or thin, it doesn’t mean the jewellery becomes fake gold. It is part of the process to make our gold stuff lovely and long-lasting. Only the thickness of the gold layer decides the quality of 18-karat gold jewellery as it may vary for each item.

For example, we get beautiful white gold when we mix 18k gold with metals like platinum, palladium, nickel, cadmium, or zinc. 18k rose gold is obtained by combining 18k gold with copper and a bit of silver.

These are all real golds, but unlike 24k purest gold, 18 karat gold items need much care and maintenance. The metallic alloys in the jewellery can change colour when constantly exposed to soap, water, or chemicals.

18k Gold-plated and 18k Gold Vermeil 

As we already know, 18k gold jewellery items are mostly gold-plated ones. The gold gets coated on a base metal to give a more stabilized finished gold product. But the layer quality can vary from a few microns to 2.5 microns of gold. 

• The cheapest and most readily tarnished gold has only 0.05 (µ) of gold coating. It’s very flimsy and barely gets labelled as real gold.

• The better version of 18k gold jewelley can go up to 2.5 (µ) thickness of the gold layer, giving more time for a gold piece to stay intact for multiple years. Such items are said to be coated with 18-karat gold vermeil.

The trick is not to blindly buy 18k gold-plated items, as a very minute gold layer can make a jewellery piece look almost fake. We should opt for solid 18k gold jewellery or 18k gold with a thick gold layer as in gold vermeil. Ample care and keeping the gold stuff dry in an airtight box can extend the life of the 18k gold jewellery with its original shine and colour maintained.