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Gold Karat Rings

Woman wearing a gold ring from KAY

10K, 14K, or 18K—which gold karat should you go for? Follow our guide to the best gold karat jewelry, ring edition.

Which Gold Karats Are the Best?

Do you know which gold karats are best for your ring? From engagement and wedding rings to gift rings and fashion rings, the karat you choose may be different. Here’s what to consider when buying the best gold karat jewelry for 10K, 14K, and 18K rings.

10 Karat Gold Rings

Infographic of 10 karat gold

What is 10 Karat Gold?

10 karat gold is one of the lower karat counts, with a ratio of around 41% gold to alloying metals and has a pale-yellow appearance. Because 10 karat gold uses a higher amount of alloyed metals, this may be an issue for people for with specific metal allergies.

Gold fashion ring

What Rings are Best for 10 Karat Gold?

10 karat gold rings are the most affordable way to enjoy this precious metal. The lower concentration of gold means 10 karat pieces are more durable, since gold is a naturally malleable metal. 10 karat gold is the best karat gold for fashion rings and types of jewelry that need to hold up to everyday use.

14 Karat Gold Rings

Infographic of 14 karat gold

What is 14 Karat Gold?

14 karat gold is the next step up and is made up of around 58% gold. It has a bright gold yellow color when compared to 10 karat gold.

Neil Lane gold wedding band

What Rings are Best for 14 Karat Gold?

With a high percentage of gold, 14 karat gold is the most popular karat choice for fine jewelry. 14 karat gold is the best karat gold for important milestone pieces like engagement and wedding rings. And being 58% gold, it still has the durability to handle everyday wear.

18 Karat Gold Rings

Infographic of 18 karat gold

What is 18 Karat Gold?

One of your purest options, 18 karat gold is made up of 75% gold. It has a notable rich yellow-gold hue.

Monique Lhuillier gold wedding band

What Rings are Best for 18 Karat Gold?

18 karat gold is the highest karat most fine jewelers work with in the US. It is the most expensive gold because of its high concentration and tends to be reserved for statement pieces of fine jewelry. Statement pieces, like 18 karat gold rings, should be worn carefully and not every day since they can easily be scratched or damaged.

SHOP 10K, 14K, AND 18K GOLD RINGS

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