Precious Metals Guide - All About Gold and Platinum

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14k White Gold

Composition & Color: 14k White Gold is 56% pure gold. It is naturally an off white color, but is finished with a rhodium plating to give it a bright white color.

Hardness: Given the higher nickel content, white gold is harder and more scratch resistant than 18k white gold or platinum so it will maintain its luster longer.

Allergenic: Its not considered hypoallergenic due to the nickel content (estimated 10% of people have a nickel allergy).

Maintenance: With regular wear the rhodium plating will wear off, but can be polished and re-plated by Labgrown.com or any jewelry repair shop.

18k White Gold

Composition & Color: 18k white gold is 75% pure gold. Like 14k white gold, it is naturally an off white color, but is finished with a rhodium plating to give it a bright white color.

Hardness: The nickel in 18k white gold makes it harder and more scratch resistant than platinum, but not as much as 14k white gold due to its higher nickel content.

Weight: 18k white gold is about 15% heavier than 14k white gold.

Allergenic: Regular 18k white gold is not considered hypoallergenic due to the nickel content. However we offer a 2nd 18k white gold alloy, 18k palladium white gold, which substitutes palladium for the nickel. It is hypoallergenic.

Maintenance:With regular wear the rhodium plating will wear off, but can be polished and re-plated by Labgrown.com or any jewelry repair shop.

Platinum

Composition & Color: Platinum has the most pure alloy being 95% platinum and 5% iridium or cobalt. It is naturally white, but finishes to a darker grey than 14k or 18k white gold.

Hardness: It is softer than 14k or 18k white gold, and therefore it scratches easier.

Weight: Platinum is very dense and as a result is 70% heavier than 14k white gold.

Allergenic: Platinum is hypoallergenic. Allergies to platinum or the other metals in its alloy are extremely rare.

Maintenance: With regular wear it will scratch and develop a patina finish. However it can be restored to new appearance via polishing by a jeweler.

Yellow Gold

Composition & Color: 14k yellow gold is 56% pure gold. It is yellow with a slight orangish tinge to it due to higher copper content. 18k yellow gold is 75% pure and is a more buttery yellow color compared to 14k yellow gold.

Hardness: Yellow gold is a little softer than white gold. 18k yellow gold is a little harder than 14k yellow gold.

Weight: 18k yellow gold is about 15% heavier than 14k yellow gold.

Allergenic: Yellow Gold is considered hypoallergenic, but a few rare cases may be allergic to the copper content.

Maintenance: With regular wear it will scratch. However it can be restored to new appearance via polishing by a jeweler.

Rose Gold

Composition & Color: 14k rose gold is 56% pure gold and has a pink color to it. 18k rose gold is 75% pure gold. 14k and 18k rose gold have a very similar color and overall appearance.

Hardness: Rose gold is softer than white and yellow gold, but harder than platinum.

Weight: 18k rose gold is about 15% heavier than 14k rose gold.

Allergenic: Rose gold is considered hypoallergenic, but a few rare cases may be allergic to the copper content.

Maintenance: With regular wear it will scratch. However it can be restored to new appearance via polishing by a jeweler.