9ct, 14ct or 18ct gold - Which is best for your engagement ring?

Two gold wedding rings of white and yellow gold

9ct, 14ct or 18ct gold - Which is best for your engagement ring?

DISCOVER WHAT GOLD CARAT AND COLOUR IS BEST FOR YOU.

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The most asked question we get is: What type of gold and colour should I choose? Without delving too deep into the science of metals and alloys, we’ll shed some light to help you make the best choice for your next Déonne le Roux masterpiece.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 9CT, 14CT AND 18CT GOLD

The purity of gold is categorized by using the carat system. Carat is the measure of pure gold in relation to other alloys in gold jewellery. The higher the amount of pure gold in a piece of jewellery the higher the purity or fineness level. For jewellery, and especially engagement rings using 9-carat, 14-carat or 18-carat gold is preferred for its balance between beauty (purity) and durability.

Let’s delve into why 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold is used in engagement rings and other gold jewellery.

9ct Gold
9-carat gold contains the least amount of gold but the ratio of gold to alloy makes these rings tough, durable and most importantly, affordable. A 9-carat gold ring is almost half the price of an 18-carat gold ring and most people choose 9-carat rings for this specific reason. 9-carat gold rings have a paler colour in comparison to higher carat gold, but many prefer the subtleness it offers. Furthermore, it is difficult to bend these rings which makes it a great choice for someone that works within an environment with hard surfaces. The main disadvantage of 9ct gold is that it can cause skin irritation if you are allergic to certain metals and the colour can fade over time due to fine scratches.

14ct Gold
14-carat gold has a higher purity and therefore more pure gold colour than 9-carat gold but is much harder and resistant to damage than 18-carat gold due to the addition of alloys. 14ct gold is rich in colour offering a classic gold appearance, wears well on anybody and is much cheaper than 18ct gold making it a popular choice. We highly recommend using 14-carat gold for its great mix of purity, beauty, durability and value for money.

18ct Gold
18-carat gold is the purest gold used to create high-end jewellery. 18ct gold has a rich yellow colour making it an attractive option when designing custom engagement rings. Due to the purity of the gold, the jewellery is more hypoallergenic meaning that it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Rings consisting of 18-carat gold are less likely to tarnish but are easier to dent and scratch. 18ct gold is a great choice if you want gold jewellery that is as pure as possible.

WHICH GOLD CARAT SHOULD I CHOOSE?

To get the best of both “gold” worlds, in our opinion, choosing 14-carat gold is the finest option. 14-carat gold offers great purity, colour and flair while being robust for a busy life.

That being said, in addition to the gold carat of the ring, another factor that also plays a role in your choice of engagement ring is the colour of the ring.

GOLDEN COLOUR WHEEL

If we perceive gold-carat to be the composition of the ring, the colour type is the personality. Think of it as that the type of gold-carat provides the structure and characteristics of the ring while the colour of the ring adds to its style and flair. The main colour options are yellow gold, white gold and rose gold which can be incorporated with 9ct, 14ct or 18ct gold to create the perfect ring. The actual colour of the ring is due to the makeup of pure gold mixed with other alloys:

Yellow Gold – is believed to be the purest gold form used for jewellery and is made by combining pure gold and metals like zinc and copper. The natural yellow tone of gold gives that beautiful golden hue.

White Gold – made of a mixture of pure gold and white metals such as nickel, silver and palladium. This mix of metals gives it a slightly off white colour. White gold jewellery is rhodium plated to give it a silvery sheen.

Rose Gold – is a combination of pure gold mixed with copper and silver alloys to give it a warm and soft glow.

Today, most engagement rings are made in white gold because it gives more sparkle and a whiter appearance to the diamonds on a ring. Rose gold on the other hand is seen less often but is gaining popularity among people who want to have a unique and romantic look. Rose gold pairs stunningly with the soft pink colours of Morganites as well as the dark hues of black diamonds to create unique designs.

However, yellow gold is making a major comeback! Understandably so, because nothing gives the same warming glow as yellow gold and it looks good on anyone. The popularity of yellow gold is also increasing due to the low maintenance as opposed to white gold that has to be rhodium plated every once in a while.

THE GOLDEN CHOICE

Making your golden choice is based on what colour suits your skin best as well as the jewellery you already own. Don’t forget, you can be bold and mix different gold colours in your design to create a look unique to you, be sure that the designs complement each other.

Déonne le Roux Jewellers can custom design an engagement ring that will echo your personality with your golden choice. Make an appointment with one of our trusted designers to discuss what gold carat and colour works best for your lifestyle and unique design.

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