What is 18K Gold? A Buyer’s Guide

18 karat or 18k gold is a popular jewelry metal made from 75% pure gold mixed with 25% other metals such as silver and copper.

While pure gold is a notoriously soft metal, 18k gold is high purity, high value, and still hard enough for everyday wear.

If you’re considering 18k gold for your next jewelry purchase but aren’t sure it’s the right metal for you, this guide has you covered.

What is 18k Gold?

18k gold is any gold alloy that contains 75%, or 18 parts out of 24, pure gold content.

The name 18 karat comes from the karat gold system, which works by dividing an alloy into 24 parts and counting how many are gold.

Under the millesimal fineness system, the same alloy is described as 750 fine – that is, 750 of 1000 parts gold.

As the chart below shows, the higher the karat or fineness number, the greater the proportion of gold present.

Comparison with Other Karatages

Each of the four most common gold purity levels – 24k, 18k, 14k, and 10k – offers a unique set of benefits and drawbacks. That being said, we generally recommend 18 karat gold for fine jewelry. Here’s why:

• It’s more attractive: Compared to lower karat gold, 18k gold appears more lustrous and beautiful. This is especially apparent in 18k yellow gold, which is a richer yellow color than the paler hues of 14k and 10k yellow gold.

• It’s more meaningful: Gold symbolizes eternal love. In our view, this makes 18k the best type of gold for meaningful jewelry gifts like engagement or wedding rings, since it’s the purest gold can be while remaining strong enough for use in jewelry.

• It will stand the test of time: The more pure gold in an alloy, the softer and easier to damage it becomes. 18k gold is a high purity yet resilient metal that can survive lifetimes of daily wear.

• It’s usually hypoallergenic: Some gold alloys contain nickel, a metal known to trigger allergic reactions. 18k rose gold and 18k yellow gold are nickel-free. 18k white gold can sometimes cause problems for those with nickel allergies, however.

Of course, no type of karat gold is perfect, and 18k is no exception. Here’s what’s not so great about 18k gold, and why you might want to choose another karatage:

• Compared to 24k: 18k gold contains less gold than 24k, which makes it less valuable. If you’re buying jewelry primarily as an investment, then 24k gold is the better option. 24k’s relative rarity can also be appealing, especially if you’re after a statement piece to treasure and wear only on special occasions.

• Compared to 14k: 18k gold is more expensive and less popular than 14k gold, which is the most popular karat gold sold in the US. 18k is also less durable. However, both 18k and 14k gold rings are strong enough for everyday wear.

• Compared to 10k: 18k gold is significantly more expensive than 10k gold. As well as being more budget-friendly, 10k gold is tougher than 18k. If you work with your hands or lead a very active lifestyle, a 10k gold ring is probably the best choice for you.

See also: Karat Gold Compared: 9k, 10k, 12k, 14k, 18k, 22k, or 24k?

Popular Colors of 18k Gold

The three major colors of gold are yellow, white, and rose. Because each is alloyed using different base and precious metals, they have distinct appearances and characteristics.

18k Yellow Gold

Composition: 75% gold mixed with copper and silver.

Color: 18k yellow gold is a sunny, vibrant color that’s deeper and richer than 14k, but not as intensely yellow as 24k. However, 24k gold jewelry is so uncommon that many consider it “too” yellow, and 18k to be the more “natural” color for gold.

Safety: Most people can comfortably wear 18k yellow gold as it contains no nickel, the most common culprit behind allergic reactions to jewelry.

Maintenance: 18k yellow gold is low maintenance. Clean your jewelry in warm soapy water if it starts getting dull, and take it to a jeweler for professional cleaning and polishing every few years to keep it looking bright and new.

Resizing: Your finger size can change over time, meaning your ring may need to be resized one day. Fortunately, 18k yellow gold rings are simple for jewelers to resize (unless the design is intricate or unusual).

Skin Tones: According to style experts, yellow gold is a good choice if you have dark, olive, neutral, or warm-toned pale skin. For cool-toned pale skin, white gold jewelry may be more flattering than yellow.

Diamond Color: Go for K, L and M on the diamond color scale to match yellow gold’s warm disposition. Prefer an icy-white diamond engagement ring? Set a G, H, I or J color diamond in platinum prongs to mitigate any yellow reflection from your yellow gold band.

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

18k White Gold

Composition: 75% gold mixed with either palladium or nickel, plus other metals such as silver, copper, and/or zinc. White gold is usually plated with rhodium to make it whiter.

Color: Rhodium plated white gold has a bright, mirror-like white sheen. Unplated 18k white gold is off-white with a yellowish tint thanks to its 75% gold content. 14k white gold is whiter than 18k because it contains less gold and more white metals.

Safety: Palladium white gold is hypoallergenic. Nickel white gold is not, and should be avoided if you have metal allergies.

Maintenance: Unplated white gold requires the same minimal maintenance levels as yellow gold. Taking care of plated white gold is more time-consuming and expensive, as it needs a fresh coat of rhodium after about 1-2 years of daily wear.

Resizing: White gold rings are generally straightforward to resize, but if your ring is rhodium plated, resizing it will damage the plating. A jeweler can replate the ring after resizing for an additional cost.

Skin Tones: White metals such as white gold look good on pretty much everyone, especially if you have dark or cool-toned skin.

Diamond Color: For white gold diamond jewelry, we recommend a G, H, I or J color graded diamond.

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

18k Rose Gold

Composition: 75% mixed gold with copper and a small amount of silver. Varying the amounts of alloying metals produces different colors.

Color: 18k rose gold can become pink or red gold, depending on the ratios of silver and copper present in the alloy. 14k rose gold is a stronger reddish color than 18k, as it contains less gold and more copper.

Safety: Since 18k rose gold contains no nickel, it’s generally considered hypoallergenic. Though its copper content is on the higher side, skin reactions to copper are rarer and less severe than reactions to nickel.

Maintenance: 18k rose gold is a low maintenance metal, much like 18k yellow gold and unplated 18k white gold. Its copper content may oxidize to a darker red surface coloring over time, but this can be professionally removed if desired.

Resizing: Compared to white and yellow gold rings, rose gold rings are trickier to resize. Because rose gold is more prone to cracking during the resizing process, it may be harder to find a jeweler willing to take on the project.

Skin Tones: As a warm metal, rose gold goes well with olive and dark skin, as well as neutral and warm-toned skin of all shades. It might not flatter cool-toned pale skin.

Diamond Color: As with yellow gold, we recommend a K, L or M color diamond to complement the warmth of a rose gold ring.

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Rose Gold

Common Uses of 18k Gold in Jewelry

Gold has been held in high regard as a jewelry metal since antiquity. Being malleable, ductile, and easy to alloy with other metals, gold is an ideal material for the creation of a wide variety of decorative items.

Due to its high purity, 18k gold is more associated with high-end jewelry than lower karat alloys like 14k gold. Cartier, Tiffany, and Harry Winston, for example, are some prominent luxury brands that use only 18k in their gold jewelry designs.

Popular types of 18k gold jewelry include:

• Engagement and wedding rings: 18k gold engagement rings and wedding bands are readily available at major jewelry retailers, as well as at more exclusive and boutique vendors.

• Bracelets: Fine jewelry bracelets, especially tennis bracelets and other bejeweled pieces, are often created with 18k gold.

• Necklaces and pendants: From chunky chains to petite pendants, 18k gold makes beautiful necklaces of all shapes and sizes.

• Men’s chains: 18k gold is a desirable metal for men’s jewelry, especially necklace chains that are either solid 18k gold or plated with it.

• Luxury watches: High-end watch brands like Rolex, Omega and Patek Philippe regularly feature 18k gold in their watch bands or dials.

How to Identify 18k Gold

The simplest way to tell if a piece of jewelry is made from 18k gold is to examine it for a quality stamp. These marks declare the gold purity of the alloy used to make a piece of jewelry. They’re usually located somewhere inconspicuous, such as inside the band of a ring.

Quality stamps that declare the presence of 18k gold:

• 18 Karat, 18KT or 18K. An item with this mark has gold content of 18 out of 24 karats (75%).

• 750. This mark declares the item’s gold content is 750 out of 1000 parts (75%).

• 18K GF, 18K RG, 18K GP or 18K GEP. GF means gold-filled, GP means gold plated, RG means rolled gold, and GEP means gold electoplated. An item bearing any of these marks is gold plated jewelry, not solid 18k gold.

If you’re buying new jewelry from a reputable retailer, such quality marks are enough to confidently identify 18k gold pieces.

However, if you have a piece of old jewelry that doesn’t have a mark, or has a mark that you don’t understand or trust, you can take it to a jeweler for professional appraisal.

Cleaning and Caring for Your 18k Gold

Any piece of gold jewelry that’s worn on a regular basis will come to lose its like-new shine. Everyday exposure to things like dirt, pollution, cosmetics, sweat, and even soap can cause a thin layer of grimy buildup on your bling.

Here’s a quick, simple and jeweler-recommended way to DIY clean your 18k gold jewelry:

1. Soak your jewelry item in a solution of warm water and mild dish soap for about ten minutes.
2. Scrub the piece with an unused soft-bristled toothbrush (no used toothbrushes, as their abrasive toothpaste residue can damage your jewelry). For rhodium plated items, use something softer than a toothbrush like a Q-tip, microfiber cloth, or even just your fingers.
3. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels or a soft cloth.

More serious upkeep issues include unsightly scratches and dents from wear and tear, and the discoloration of plated white gold as its rhodium coating wears off.

In these and other cases where at-home cleaning doesn’t improve your jewelry’s appearance, you should see a professional for expert assessment and treatment.

To keep your 18k gold jewelry in good shape and from needing many cleanings and treatments in the first place, we recommend that you:

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

• Take it off before you go swimming in a chlorinated pool or the ocean.

• Remove your gold rings before lifting weights, working with your hands, or cleaning with harsh chemicals like bleach.

• Store each piece separately in a cool, dry place (don’t let your pieces jostle and scratch against each other).

18k Gold Jewelry Buying Advice

Ready to buy yourself some 18k gold jewelry? Keep the following best practices in mind.

• Buy from a reputable vendor. Do your due diligence and check the seller’s reviews, reputation for craftsmanship, number of years in business, and returns policy. And it goes without saying, but please don’t buy gold from a random guy on the side of the street.

• Verify the gold purity. This is where it helps to buy from a trustworthy vendor, for the peace of mind that their gold quality stamps are genuine. If the gold item has no quality stamps and/or you don’t trust the seller, get it professionally tested before you pay. You can arrange to meet the seller at a jewelry store that will provide this service.

• Shop online for greater variety. Major online retailers like James Allen and Blue Nile have wider selections than traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Plus additional perks like free tracked delivery, lower prices due to reduced overhead costs, and a relaxed shopping experience without pushy salespeople.

• Avoid luxury brands for greater value. If you buy gold jewelry from a premium brand like Tiffany, expect to pay a very hefty markup on the gold’s true value.

FAQs About 18k Gold

Is 18k gold good quality?

At 75% gold content, 18k gold is the highest quality gold you can typically buy in jewelry stores. The remaining 25% consists of other metals such as silver and copper. These metals give 18k gold the required strength and sturdiness to be made into durable jewelry.

Does 18k gold tarnish?

18k gold does not tarnish due to its high gold purity. As a noble metal, gold is impervious to most forms of chemical reaction, including those that cause tarnishing. Other metals that can be present in gold alloys, such as copper, can become tarnished on their own. But in an 18k gold alloy, the concentration of these metals is too low to for tarnishing to occur.

Can I wear 18k gold every day?

Modern 18k gold alloys are engineered for daily wear. Though they contain 75% gold, precision alloying with other metals such as silver, copper and palladium yields 18k metals that are much tougher and better able to withstand daily wear and tear than pure gold alone.

Which color of 18k gold is the most expensive?

On a gram-for-gram basis, jewelry made from the three major gold colors – yellow, white, and rose – generally costs about the same. White gold can cost slightly more if it’s alloyed with palladium and/or plated with rhodium, as both palladium and rhodium are expensive precious metals.

Does 18k gold have resale value?

18k gold jewelry (of any color) can be sold to a jeweler or metal recycler, should the need arise. However, you probably won’t be able to get back as much as what you originally paid. The sale price will depend on the weight of the gold in your piece, the current gold spot price, and what the buyer is willing to pay.

Thanks for reading, and we hope you learned a thing or two about 18 karat gold. If you’d like to know more about another popular gold karatage, then see our guide to 14 karat gold next.