Karats
The gold purity of a gold necklace is measured in "karats". Pure, fine gold is 24K gold, which is soft and malleable for a metal. Jewelers add alloys to gold to strengthen the metal so it doesn't scratch easily and lose particle, or mass.
The most common alloys are copper and silver. Please note that different gold jewelry colors use different metal compositions to attain their desired color.
Below are composition percentages for yellow gold necklaces:
10K yellow gold necklace composition:
41.7% gold
52% silver
6.3% copper
14K yellow gold necklace composition:
58.5% gold
29% copper
12.5% silver
18K yellow gold necklace composition:
75% gold
15% copper
10% silver
Continue to Gold Necklaces Colors