14K Gold Chains

The term "Karat," which is typically abbreviated with the letter "K", is used to describe the proportion of fine gold to any other alloy metals present in a piece of jewelry. One hundred percent pure gold is always designated as 24K. However the most popular mixture of gold, 14K, is only 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy metals.

This means that jewelry made out of 14K gold is only about 58.33 percent pure gold. Nevertheless, this blend of gold is the most preferred class in the United States. On the other hand, people in Asia and Europe seem to prefer the higher quality 18K gold jewelry, which is made out of approximately 75 percent pure gold.

Properties of Gold

When fashioning gold into a chain to wear as a necklace or bracelet, it is very important to pick the appropriate gold content. Pure gold is very soft and flexible. Unfortunately, these properties make 24K gold an impractical material for making jewelry.

Fourteen karat gold is the ideal substance to craft jewelry out of, especially items like 14K gold chains, because it contains the perfect mix of strength and hardness. The 41.7 percent alloy metal contained in 14K gold chains lends strength to the chains; thereby making them more durable and less likely to break. Plus, keep in mind that anything less than 14K gold is bordering on costume jewelry.