Need some help with gold types

[Gina]

So I am FINALLY graduating with my Bachelors degree in December, and my mom & step-dad have very generously said that they want to get my ring for me. But I need help from my DIS friends! I love jewelry, but I don't know much about gold. I couldn't even tell you what my wedding ring was made from, and that was sold off years ago anyway.

I do know that the higher the karat, the softer the gold, and I'm hard on stuff... I don't want 18k that's going to be all scratched up and dented in a week. I have worked HARD for this ring -- I want to have it forever!! Durability is the most important thing to me in this. Plus, I don't want my folks to have to spend even more money than necessary.

My main concern is, if I went with 10k gold, would it be as shiny and pretty as 14 or 18k??

This is the ring (the natural gold on the right), and I am totally in love with it, but I'm betting the one shown is 18k. Do you think 10k would look way different?

Thanks for any suggestions y'all might have!!


-gina-

 

[MushyMushy]

We used to sell Jostens rings in the college bookstore where I worked. I loved helping people pick out rings!

And, yes, we always recommended that people look at the lower karats. IMO, they looked just as fantastic as the higher karat rings.

 

[DizBelle]

24K gold is pure gold. 18K is 18/24 or 75% gold. 14K is 14/24 or 58% gold. 10K is 10/24 or 42% gold. You will see a slight color difference between 18K and 14K. 18K is more "buttery". I'd be surprised if you could tell the diffrence (visually) between 14K and 10K. If durability is what you're after, go for 10K.

 

[Gina]

Thank you both very much for your answers!! I definitely want the durability of 10k, I just didn't want it to look like it gold-colored plastic.

Thanks again!

 

[Buckalew11]

10K will not look like gold plastic. It will be beautiful and you will love it! My grandfather gave me a 10K green gold ring when I was a little girl (about 8) and it still fits and I can still wear it and it still looks beautiful and I am 44.

Congrats and wear your ring proudly!