FAQ
What is 14k gold? How is that different from 10k, 18k, 24k?
- Purity of gold is measured by a karat weight system. The karat system measures the ratio of gold to other alloys in a piece. The more pure gold, the higher the karat weight.
While the thought of 24k pure gold sounds attractive, it isn’t the best for jewelry. It’s soft and malleable, meaning your jewelry will bend easily and show scratches. The color of 24k gold is also a much brighter yellow and is not the color associated with gold jewelry.
Which is better, 14k or 18k? It’s totally up to your preference! 14k has a lower gold to alloy ratio, making it more durable, and more affordable. 18k has more pure gold, is more delicate, and gives off a more vibrant yellow gold color.
How do I know my ring size?
- The easiest way to determine your ring size is to use a ring sizer. If you don’t have one available, you can use a string and a ruler.
1. Wrap the string around the base of your finger.
2. Mark where the end meets.
3. Using the ruler, measure the length of the string to the nearest millimeter (mm).
4. Refer to the size chart to determine what ring size that corresponds to. Ring sizes go up by about 0.4 mm every half size.
| US Size |
MM |
| 3 |
14 mm |
| 4 |
14.8 mm |
| 5 |
15.6 mm |
| 6 |
16.5 mm |
| 7 |
17.3 mm |
| 8 |
18.2 mm |
| 9 |
19 mm |
| 10 |
19.8 mm |
What is the difference between karat and carat?
- Karat (K) is the ratio of mass of gold to other alloys in jewelry. Carat (c) is the measure of the mass of a diamond.
What is the difference between solid gold, gold filled, and gold plated?
- Solid Gold (also known as real gold):
- Most commonly sold are 10k, 14k, 18k, or 24k real gold.
- All real gold products are tarnish resistant.
- Solid gold is of the highest quality, value, longevity.
Gold Filled:
- A thin solid layer of gold is mechanically bonded to a base of either sterling silver or another metal.
- Gold filled pieces are typically more durable than gold plated pieces, but do not last as long as solid gold.
- Eventually, the thin gold layer wears away, revealing the base metal underneath and making it susceptible to tarnishing.
Gold Plated/Vermeil:
- Gold plated jewelry uses a very thin layer of gold that is deposited onto a base metal or sterling silver.
- If gold is plated over a sterling silver base, it is known as “vermeil”.
- Gold plated jewelry is often expressed with a number of karats. This refers to the thin sheet on top. For example: “14k gold plated”.