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14kt Gold

Have you ever wondered what goes into selecting the perfect piece of 14kt gold custom designed jewelry at our Seattle and Bellevue jeweler? If you're not sure, then you've come to the right place. But before we jump into what you need to look for when shopping for 14kt jewelry, let's take a moment to discuss what a "karat" is, because it is very important to understanding how to shop for this type of jewelry.

What is a Karat?

To put it simply, a karat is a unit of measurement that is used to indicate the percentage of gold in any given piece of jewelry. One of the main reasons why pure gold isn't generally sold to the public as jewelry is because it is too soft and costs too much to be accessible to many people. For this reason, various alloys are produced to help maximize the overall strength of the piece of jewelry, as well as to decrease its price so that it can reach a larger market. 14kt gold is about 55% gold and is relatively common around the United States (and many other parts of the world). One of the reasons why gold jewelry will come in so many different colors is because the gold has been mixed with different metals to form an alloy. For example, 14kt gold jewelry that contains copper is known as rose gold. When mixed with iron, a blue gold alloy is produced. And finally, a purple gold alloy results from the combination of pure gold and aluminum.

How to Test 14k Gold

So, how can you tell whether or not the piece of 14kt gold you are looking at is worth the price? Well, it's simple: you test it. And there are a few effective ways to go about doing this. The first thing you will want to do is look for something called a karat mark that tells you the actual karat value for that piece of jewelry. It will be in the form of a number – either 14kt or 585. You may or may not also see a company logo or trademark code in the same area. If you don't see these numbers then you should automatically assume that something is wrong with the jewelry. Although these numbers occasionally become worn down over time, it isn't a risk that you should take unless you are very experienced with 14kt gold jewelry shopping.

Testing the Jewelry

In most jewelry shops, you can ask the store manager to test the piece of jewelry right in front of you - and most of them will do this free of charge. To do this, they will use a testing kit that allows them to demonstrate that the piece in question is actually 14kt gold.

Conclusion

14kt gold is an excellent choice for jewelry, both in terms of looks and functionality. It holds up well to the rigors of daily wear, and it is relatively easy to care for and maintain. Since we make our jewelry from scratch, in-house, we are able to create your 14kt jewelry to your specification, so you're sure to find a piece that suits your style and your needs.