What is 14K Gold? Pros, Cons & Qualities Explained

14 karat or 14k gold is made from 58.3% gold and 41.7% other metals such as silver and copper. It’s the most popular type of gold used to make jewelry in the United States.

In this comprehensive guide, we explore the positive characteristics of 14k gold that make it so appealing to so many people.

We also cover its drawbacks, and look at a few scenarios where you might be better off with a different karat grade of gold jewelry.

Is 14k Gold Real?

Yes, 14k gold is real gold. It’s a solid gold alloy, meaning its gold content goes all the way through. In contrast, gold-coated metals like vermeil are only gold on the surface.

The name 14 karat refers to the fact that 14k gold is made from 14 parts gold out of 24. Gold alloys can be any karatage between 1 and 24, with 24 karat being pure gold.

But because pure gold is a soft and easily deformed metal, it’s not well suited for everyday wear. Alloying gold with other metals makes it harder and more durable, as well as more affordable.

Another method used to describe gold purity is the millesimal fineness system, which employs a three-digit number to represent the percentage of gold content.

Under this system, 14k gold is called 583, indicating 58.3% gold (which is the same as 14 parts out of 24). Some jewelry manufacturers, particularly in Europe, use 585 (58.5% gold) instead of 583, but this is still considered 14k gold.

Different Colors of 14k Gold

Gold is naturally yellow, but alternative gold colors can be created by varying the types and amounts of alloying metals used in a 14k alloy.

14k Yellow Gold

Composition: 58.3% gold mixed with silver and copper.

14k yellow gold is an attractive, versatile and robust precious metal. With 14k being the most popular gold karat and yellow being the most popular gold color, 14k yellow gold delivers the best of both worlds.

Contrary to popular belief, 14k yellow gold isn’t all the same shade of yellow. While the gold percentage can’t go below 58.3%, a goldsmith can create different hues of yellow by adjusting the percentages of copper and silver.

For instance, a higher proportion of copper produces a darker, more orangy yellow, while using more silver makes for a paler, almost greenish yellow.

See also: All That Glitters: A Guide to Yellow Gold

14k White Gold

Composition: 58.3% gold mixed with copper and white metals such as palladium, silver, nickel, and/or zinc.

With most US couples opting for a white gold engagement ring, 14k white gold is a major player in the wedding jewelry market.

However, from a consumer’s perspective, 14k white gold is more complicated than 14k yellow gold. It comes in several distinct varieties, offering more options but also more to consider.

• Nickel white gold vs. palladium white gold: Yellow gold can be “bleached” white by either nickel or palladium. Nickel white gold is cheaper, but shouldn’t be worn by people who are allergic to nickel. Palladium white gold is more premium and expensive.

• Rhodium plated vs. unplated white gold: White alloy metals can’t completely remove the yellowish tint from white gold. Most white gold jewelry is therefore plated with rhodium, a bright white metal. The catch is that rhodium plating doesn’t last. A ring worn daily typically needs replating every 1-2 years.

See also: What is White Gold? The Only Guide You Need

14k Rose Gold

14k rose gold isn’t as popular as 14k white and yellow gold. Saying that, it has fans enough to be offered as a metal option for many of the jewelry pieces at major online retailers like James Allen and Blue Nile.

As with yellow gold, 14k rose gold can come in different hues depending on the proportions of silver and copper used.

Alloys with a lighter pink tone due to higher silver content are sometimes called pink gold, while darker formulations that that use no silver at all are known as red gold.

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Rose Gold

Why is 14k Gold So Popular?

In our view, these are the four things 14k gold does better than the other major karatages of 24k, 18k, and 10k gold.

1. Balances purity with affordability

Price is a major driver of 14k gold’s popularity. Gold is expensive, and at 58.3% gold, 14k is more accessible than higher purity karatages.

For instance, you can generally save a few hundred dollars on an engagement ring setting by having it done in 14k instead of 18k gold.

2. Balances purity with practicality

At 14 parts gold out of 24, 14k gold must also be 10 parts non-gold metals. These other metals make 14k stronger and harder than higher karat golds, thus better able to withstand wear and tear – a practical consideration for a wedding band or ring made to be worn every day.

3. Balances purity with color intensity in colored golds

18k and other high purity golds contain higher percentages of pure gold. In yellow gold jewelry, this is an advantage as it reveals more of the gold’s rich yellow color.

But in colored golds like white gold and rose gold, it leaves less room for the metals that give these golds their special hues.

Meaning that 14k white gold and 14k rose gold are respectively whiter and rosier than their 18k counterparts, because they contain higher proportions of colored metals.

4. Balances purity with psychology

Of the four main gold karatages, 14k is the least pure and most affordable option that still contains more than 50% gold content.

For many people, this 50% mark is an important psychological distinction. It can be difficult to view anything that’s less than half pure gold content as gold “enough” – especially for fine pieces like engagement rings and wedding rings.

Otherwise 10k gold, which is only 41.7% pure gold and therefore less expensive than 14k, would probably be the most popular karatage.

Comparison with Other Karat Golds

14k vs. 24k Gold

Appearance: Unlike lower purities of gold, 24k gold can only be one color – an intense, almost orangy yellow. In contrast, 14k yellow gold is a paler, more delicate yellow hue. 14k gold also comes in other colors like white and rose.

Value & Cost: Being 100% gold, 24k gold is much more valuable and expensive than 14k gold, which has only 58.3% gold content. It also has the highest resale value of any variety of gold jewelry.

Wearability: 24k gold is a soft metal that’s prone to picking up scratches and dents. Especially 24k rings, as jewelry worn on the hands often comes into contact with hard surfaces. 14k gold is much sturdier and more suited for daily wear.

Safety: While 24k gold is hypoallergenic, some 14k white gold alloys can trigger skin reactions due to their nickel content.

14k vs. 18k Gold

Appearance: As it contains more pure gold, 18k yellow gold is brighter and yellower than 14k yellow gold. 18k white gold isn’t as white as 14k white gold, while 18k rose gold isn’t as red as 14k rose gold.

Value & Cost: A piece of jewelry made from 18k gold has 28.6% more gold content than an identical piece made from 14k, and is about 19% heavier. Thanks to this extra purity and density, an 18k item can cost significantly more than a 14k one.

Wearability: Most engagement and wedding rings sold in the US are made from 14k gold, in part due to 14k’s reputation as a durable alloy that can hold diamonds securely and stand up to everyday wear. While some 18k alloys can be very strong, 18k is typically less robust than 14k.

Safety: 14k and 18k white gold can both contain nickel. If you’re one of the 17% of women and 3% of men who have a nickel allergy, make sure that any jewelry you buy is nickel-free.

14k vs. 10k Gold

Appearance: 10k yellow gold can be a noticeably paler yellow than 14k yellow gold. 10k white gold appears whiter than 14k white gold due to its lower gold content, while 10k rose gold is often pinker than 14k rose gold because it has more copper and silver.

Value & Cost: With only 41.7% pure gold present amid 58.3% alloyed metals, 10k gold is the most affordable of the major karatages. Even so, 10k isn’t as popular for engagement rings and wedding bands as 14k.

Wearability: A hard-working and hard-wearing metal, 10k gold is a good choice if you work with your hands or lead an active lifestyle. Saying that, this low karat gold tarnishes more easily than 14k gold, so it may still require some upkeep over its lifespan.

Safety: If you know or suspect you have a nickel allergy, then avoid nickel-containing 10k white gold. Also watch out for 10k rose gold if you’re sensitive to copper, as it has higher copper content than 14k rose gold.

How to Identify Genuine 14k Gold

Most authentic gold jewelry produced in the US is quality stamped with tiny marks that disclose its gold purity. You’ll typically find these marks in inconspicuous spots, such as on the inner band of a ring or the clasp of a necklace.

Here are some of the common quality stamps that identify solid 14k gold. As well as some that look like they might mean solid 14k, but actually refer to 14k gold coatings.

• 14 Karat, 14 KT or 14K: The item is 14 karats out of 24, making it genuine 14k gold all the way through.

• 583 or 585: The item is 58.3% or 58.5% pure gold, which is the same as 14 karats out of 24.

• GF: An acronym meaning gold-filled. This means the item is made from base metals and coated with a solid gold layer that must make up at least 5% of the item’s total weight. This mark is typically found next to a gold purity number. 14 KT GF, for example, reveals that the item’s upper layer is 14k gold but the metal underneath isn’t.

• RG or RGP: Acronyms meaning rolled gold and rolled gold plate, respectively. Items with this mark have gold coatings comprising at least 2.5% of their total weight. 14 Karat RG is an example of such a mark.

• GP or GEP: Acronyms meaning gold plated and gold electroplated, respectively. The item is made from base metals and coated with a microscopically thin layer of gold. 14K GP is a mark you might see on jewelry like this.

If your jewelry item has no marks, or you have reason to doubt that its marks are genuine, you can take it to a jeweler for professional appraisal.

14k Gold Maintenance

Follow these best practices to keep your 14k gold in good condition:

• Regularly wipe it down with a tissue or soft cloth to prevent dirt buildup.

• Don’t wear it when you go into swimming pools or the sea.

• For rings in particular: take them off when handling harsh chemicals, or engaging in any activity that will impact or rub your hands against hard objects (for example, moving furniture or lifting weights).

• Separate each piece for storage, so they don’t rub and scratch against each other.

If your gold starts to look dull despite your best efforts, then here’s a jeweler-approved cleaning method:

1. Soak your jewelry piece in a solution of warm water and mild dish soap for about ten minutes.
2. Scrub the jewelry using something soft and non-abrasive like a Q-tip or soft-bristled toothbrush. Don’t use a toothbrush on rhodium plated items though, as doing so can damage the plating.
3. Rinse and dry the piece completely using a paper towel or soft cloth.

For more serious issues such as scratches or dents, or 14k white gold in need of a new rhodium coating, you can take it for professional servicing at a jeweler or jewelry repair store.

Tips for Buying 14k Gold Jewelry

Here are our top tips to shop safely and get the best deal on 14k gold jewelry.

• Don’t skip your due diligence. The most important step! You should only buy from trustworthy sellers who have a favorable returns policy and positive reviews. James Allen, Blue Nile and White Flash are some popular vendors who meet these criteria.

• Get better deals by shopping online. As they have lower operational costs, online retailers like those listed above can offer better prices compared to brick-and-mortar jewelry stores, as well as free tracked shipping. They also have a far wider range of products to choose from.

• Make sure the gold is solid 14k. Watch out for quality stamps like GF, GP, and GEP. These show that the gold item is only gold-coated, instead of solid gold. If you don’t know what a particular marking means, ask the seller to explain it.

• Wait for sales and special offers. Shopping right before holidays and special occasions like Christmas and Valentine’s Day can often net big savings, as stores compete to meet sales targets.

FAQs About 14k Gold

Is 14k gold good quality?

14k gold is a good quality alloy that’s suitable for fine jewelry. It contains more than 50% pure gold (58.3%, to be precise) and is the most popular gold karatage in the US jewelry market.

Is 14k gold better than 18k?

18k gold is better than 14k gold in terms of gold purity and value. At 75% gold content, 18k is a more luxurious and high-end karat grade than 14k.

On the other hand, 14k white gold is whiter and 14k rose gold is redder than their 18k counterparts. So 14k is better if you prefer stronger non-yellow colors.

Is it normal for 14k gold to tarnish?

14k gold almost never tarnishes. Gold generally only tarnishes in lower purity alloys under 10k.

However, 14k rose gold can sometimes gain a dark surface patina if its copper material reacts with oxygen, sulfur and moisture in the air. This patina isn’t permanent and can be removed.

Can I wear 14k gold in the shower?

14k gold can’t be damaged by tap water, so it’s safe to wear in the shower.

However, if you often shower while wearing gold jewelry, soap and shampoo residues may gradually build up on its surface and reduce its shine. Fortunately, it’s simple to clean off these residues and get your gold looking new again.

How long does 14k gold last?

14k solid gold is a robust jewelry metal that with proper care should last forever. Because gold is a noble metal, it’s essentially impervious to chemical corrosion.

Even if your 14k gold item suffers physical damage, such as being crushed by a heavy object, the gold alloy itself will be fine and can be repaired or remade into another piece of jewelry.

We hope you enjoyed learning about 14 karat gold. Next, check out our write-up on another popular gold karat grade: 18 karat gold.