JEWELRY EDUCATION
Gold Buying Guide
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING
A Guide to Buying Gold Jewelry
Gold has been treasured for thousands of years for its beauty, rarity and versatility. Today it remains one of the most popular precious metals for everything from everyday jewelry to engagement rings and heirloom pieces.
Understanding karat, color, construction and quality markings can help you compare gold jewelry and choose a piece that fits your style, lifestyle and budget.
What Does Karat Mean?
Karat measures the percentage of pure gold within a gold alloy. Because pure gold is relatively soft, it is commonly combined with other metals to improve strength, durability and color.
24K
Essentially Pure Gold
24K gold offers the richest natural gold color, but its softness makes it less practical for many pieces intended for frequent wear.
18K
75% Pure Gold
18K combines a high gold content with additional strength, giving fine jewelry rich color while making it more practical to wear.
14K
58.5% Pure Gold
14K offers an excellent balance of beauty, durability and value, making it one of the most widely used gold alloys in fine jewelry.
10K
41.7% Pure Gold
10K contains more alloyed metal than higher-karat options, providing additional hardness and a generally lower price point.
Choosing Your Gold Color
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold retains the warm appearance most closely associated with natural gold. Different alloys are used to strengthen the metal while preserving its traditional color.
BEST FOR
Classic, warm and timeless jewelry.
White Gold
White gold combines pure gold with lighter-colored metals. It is commonly rhodium plated to create the bright white finish associated with modern white gold jewelry.
BEST FOR
Bright, contemporary styling.
Rose Gold
Rose gold gets its warm pink tone from copper within the alloy. The amount of copper used can influence how subtle or pronounced the rose color appears.
BEST FOR
Romantic color and distinctive style.
UNDERSTAND THE TERMINOLOGY
Solid Gold, Gold Filled & Gold Plated
Solid gold does not mean pure 24K gold. It means the piece is made from a gold alloy throughout rather than having only a surface layer of gold.
Gold-filled jewelry uses a bonded layer of gold over another metal. It generally contains substantially more gold than standard gold-plated jewelry but is not solid gold.
Gold-plated jewelry has a thin layer of gold applied over a base metal. That layer can gradually wear away depending on the thickness of the plating and how the piece is worn.
Understanding these differences is important when comparing price, longevity and maintenance.
Understanding Gold Jewelry Marks
Small stamps found on gold jewelry can provide useful information about metal content and the piece's manufacturer.
Karat Marks
Gold jewelry may be stamped with marks such as 10K, 14K or 18K to indicate its approximate gold content.
Fineness Marks
You may also see numbers such as 417, 585 or 750. These indicate the approximate proportion of pure gold in parts per thousand.
Maker's Marks
Jewelry may include additional stamps identifying the manufacturer or maker. Marks can vary depending on where and when a piece was produced.
What to Consider When Buying Gold
The best choice isn't automatically the highest karat. Think about how the piece is made, how it will be worn and which qualities matter most to you.
How Will You Wear It?
Jewelry worn every day needs to stand up to more wear than an occasional piece. Consider durability along with gold content.
Check Construction
Quality involves more than the metal itself. Examine clasps, links, settings, solder points and other components for secure construction.
Consider Weight
Two pieces that look similar may contain very different amounts of gold. Construction, thickness and weight can all affect durability and value.
Think About Maintenance
All gold jewelry develops normal signs of wear. White gold may also need periodic rhodium refinishing to maintain its bright white appearance.
KEEP YOUR GOLD LOOKING BEAUTIFUL
Caring for Gold Jewelry
Gold jewelry will naturally develop fine scratches and signs of wear over time. Store pieces separately to reduce scratching and remove fine jewelry before swimming, exercising or working with household chemicals.
Many gold pieces can be gently cleaned with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth or brush, provided the gemstones in the jewelry can safely tolerate that method.
Professional cleaning, inspection and refinishing can help maintain frequently worn pieces and identify worn settings or components before they become larger concerns.