By soft I mean 24-carat gold rings are known to be very prone to scratching, crushing, bending, twisting, and (unfortunately) breaking. 24-carat solid gold rings are much easier to ruin, much easier than 14k rings and 18-carat gold rings. Remember that 14 and 18 carat gold has a large amount of gold in balance with other (harder) alloys. While 24-carat gold is bright in color and has a warmer tone than most other jewelry, making it more attractive, it is also more expensive due to the current Gold Rate Today. And because they contain more gold, 24-carat jewelry is slightly more valuable than jewelry of the same weight but of lower purity.
The downside of 24-carat gold jewelry is that it can easily break and be scratched. In addition, since 24 carats is pure gold, it is usually slightly more expensive than 22 carats or 18 carats. If you see a 10-carat gold engagement ring, it's usually a good indicator that the diamond or other gem probably doesn't meet the standards you want. While gold's purity levels may seem a bit confusing at first, they're fairly easy to understand once you get familiar with the basics.
Rings and other jewelry made with 14-carat gold are significantly more durable than those made with 18-carat gold, making this type of gold a good choice if you're worried about marks and scratches. When choosing gold for an engagement ring or other jewelry, it's important to consider factors such as skin sensitivity, profession, activity level, and the aesthetic taste of you or your partner. Because 14-carat gold has a higher alloy content than 18-carat gold, it can sometimes cause itchy and uncomfortable skin if you have an allergy to copper, silver, nickel, zinc or iron. In most advanced countries, jewelers are required by law to seal their gold jewelry with its karat classification.
Aesthetically, 10-carat gold looks pale, with a significantly less intense yellow tone than 14-carat or 18-carat gold. Keep in mind that this type of gold is quite soft and can easily be scratched while you or your partner are working or exercising. Many high-end luxury jewelry retailers don't even offer 10-carat gold pieces because of their relatively low gold content. The term “carat” (with a K) refers to the fineness of gold, while the term carat (with a C) refers to the weight of gemstones.
Although widely used in affordable earrings and jewelry, 10-carat gold is not a very popular metal for engagement rings and fine jewelry. If you're active or working in an environment where your ring could hit hard surfaces, 18-carat gold may not be the best option. So, while higher karat ratings are the most sought after, you can also buy gold jewelry with less gold.
