Is 10K Gold Good?

Gold is usually alloyed with other metals for durability.

Ten-karat gold stands for ten karat gold. The caratage of the gold tells you how pure it is. Ten karat gold has ten parts pure gold to fourteen parts other metals.

Significance

Pure gold is a very soft metal. Because of this, it's often mixed with other metals. To let you know how much pure gold is in a particular item, a system of standard measurements exists. The standard international caratage is 18, meaning 18 parts pure gold to 24 parts alloy. Ten karat gold is the lowest caratage permitted in the United States.

Considerations

Because of its relatively low purity, 10 karat gold is relatively inexpensive while still retaining the look of real gold. Unlike gold-plated jewelry, the surface of items made from 10 karat gold won't wear off. It is less valuable than gold of higher purity, however.

Fun Fact

Mixing gold with other metals can create colored gold. Rose gold is made by adding copper to gold, while white gold is made by adding silver. You can even find purple, green and blue gold. Some of these colored golds are 10 karat. Although less valuable than higher purities, you can use them to make striking designs.

References

• Online Etymology Dictionary: Carat
• World Gold Council: Caratage
• Jewelry Education: Gold Karat Grade
• Web Exhibits: Causes of Color: Gold

Resources

• University of Texas at Austin: Jackson School of Geosciences: Metals