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How do you feel about 10K Jewelry?

zhuzhu

zhuzhu

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
Messages
2,503
I mean 10 karat gold, not $10K jewelry.

Some people I know look down on the 10K yg rings I have, telling me how "it is so cheap to wear 10K pieces as they are no better than fake ones". I was very surprised to hear that 10K gold got such a bad rep for some people.

Do you also find 10K jewelry "bothersome"?
 
For me it''s all about how expensive the stone in the jewelry (assuming there''s a stone). I have a ring with a very cheap ammy set in 10k gold - the stone is hardly worth anything, so I don''t mind that the gold is only 10k.

If I had a diamond or expensive colored stone, I would go with higher quality gold or even platinum. I guess I feel like the metal should match the cost of the stone - expensive stone, expensive metal.
 
Don''t have a problem with it at all.
 
gold in grades other than 14, 18 and 24k is common in other areas of the world and has been very common at different times in history. I think 10k is quite common in quality jewelry in Australia, but I could be wrong, that''s just a random mental blip.

But yes, as a rule for jewelry of quality or what I consider "good" jewelry I tend to stick to 14k and higher.
 
I have a problem seeing even 14k as "real gold", honestly - been spoilt by all the Indian 22/24k, I suppose!


That said, I think everything has its place. I like 14k for earrings - it's inexpensive and more importantly it's light. 10k is more alloy than gold, I wouldn't use it for a quality piece, and I'd avoid 10k rose gold entirely as it has been known to tarnish.
 
Buy whatever you like, be it 10K gold, I3 clarity-enhanced-fractured filled diamonds, CZs or whatev!
 
I prefer 18k and up. Its not exactly bothersome, though, because I don''t come across it often.
 
Can you visually tell the difference between 10K, 14K, 18K, etc?
 
I think elitism in metals is really overrated. REALLY overrated. I would like to see more use of interesting things like purple and blue coppers... blackened steel... 10k gold is not a problem. I have a bracelet in 10k and it''s perfectly fine.
 
I do not think a metal is inferior because of the price, it''s all in the design of the piece. I have a peridot set in a sterling bezel that showcases that stone so well, it''s beautiful! The color or texture of the metal is just another part of the design to me. I do have a very good friend that is like what you are talking about though, I wear a james avery cross most of the time and she is horrified that I , gasp!!! wear sterling silver!
 
I think it''s one thing to be "elite" about metals, and another to be "elite" about purity of any given metal. For example I have no issue with sterling and I will choose gold over platinum every time, but I don''t like low-karat gold.
 
We put our diamonds in titanium, which is super duper cheapo compared to gold or platinum.
It is as elite as 0 kt gold.
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The money saved by avoiding precious metals allows a little better diamond.
 
Date: 5/19/2010 1:40:11 AM
Author: kenny
We put our diamonds in titanium, which is super duper cheapo compared to gold or platinum.
It is as elite as 0 kt gold.
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The money saved by avoiding precious metals allows a little better diamond.
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Kenny, you plebian

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Ah, dang.
It''s off to the dictionary. . .again.
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I wouldn''t mind 10k gold, or even 9k as is fairly common in the UK. If it was a white gold piece with rhodium plating, I would actively seek out the 9k and spend the difference on the diamond.
 
I don''t care about the karat weight personally.
 
Date: 5/18/2010 10:25:23 PM
Author: CharmyPoo
Can you visually tell the difference between 10K, 14K, 18K, etc?
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If it''s rhodium plated white gold - no. I lined up my rhodium plated SS, 10k, 14k, and 18k in a row. They all look the same. I''ve also noticed that the rhodium wears the same on all of them too. I am picky about yellow gold - I only like 18k.
 
personally, i think 10k gold is glorified costume jewelry......and i''m ok with lovely pieces of costume jewelry when/if the mood strikes me and i really like a piece....usually a pin. for me rings are 18k or higher.

mz

ps other parts of the world have their own preferences: india - 22k or higher gold; ireland has a lot of 10k. each to their own preference, imo.
 
No, I do not have a problem with it. I have a few pieces in 10k (mostly yellow gold). I actually like that the yellow is more muted than in 14k or 18k alloys as it goes better with my skin tone. I have a few old family pieces that are also 10k that I enjoy. We don't exactly have generational stones and such in my family as it is not a wealthy one by any means....and a few bits of 10k jewelery will have to do! Generally in North America 10k though IS used in other-than-fine jewelery and I probably would not go for it for my fine jewelery - as I don't need to. Not as I find it bothersome.

I don't get too worried about the "purity" aspect of metals and such. I would choose gold over platinum or palladium and so on knowing gold of course is alloyed with other metals like nickel, copper, zincs, silvers and so on.....all are metals so I don't get too worried about it. Then again, sacrilege, I don't get too caught up on the natural vs. man-made stone debate either. If it is pretty and well cut, and I like it, and everyone is honest about it, then I don't really worry too much about it.

I do prefer the WEIGHT of 18k though, and for my wedding set I wanted 18k (white gold). However, as I do not like plating, I went for a palladium alloy.
 
I am not a metal purist: I wear titanium, copper (as long as it doesn''t touch my skin, which goes an interesting shade of green) and silver is one of my favourites. But I am not fond of very low karat gold, as the colour looks rather meh.

However, wear it with pride if you like it.
 
I don''t even have any extremely expensive jewelry, so I''m not exactly in the position to be super exclusive to high-end, but still, I kind of feel that 10K (as MZ posted) is more along the lines of costume jewelry rather than something I''d set a diamond in. I''d be more inclined to have a sterling piece with a diamond rather than 10K.
 
ZhuZhu, don''t worry about what other people think about your pieces, just buy what makes you happy!
 
i like all shades of gold, so this is a-ok with me
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10k reminds me of kid's jewellery because I used to work at a place that sold lots of it.

It makes me a little sad that 10k yg looks so washed-out next to 18k yg, and 10k earrings bother my ears (14k too
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).
That 10k is less than half gold is a bit of a mind-clean issue, but all in all I think it just squeaks into the low end of the fine jewellery category.

If I saw a beautiful ring, necklace, watch, or bracelet in 10k I would buy it.
 
All my gold is white gold. I gets yellow after a few years, but I take it in and they make it white again. I like it just fine. I was told years ago waaaay before PS that 10K gold is harder than 18 or 24K because it does have more alloy in it. If I see something I like I wouldnt not get it because it was 10K. If someone perfers the white color then wouldnt 10K be better since it is stronger?
 
If the color is yellow gold, I can wear it. It is harder, less likely to scratch. Jewelry that I have had in 10K yellow gold appears to be darker, giving it a vintage/antique look. I like that patina and look, as long as the piece is not a modern design.

A lot of antique jewelry will be 10K.
 
I don''t have a problem with 10k gold, my right hand stacking rings are both 10k white and I wear them daily.

I do prefer a higher ct gold for my nicer peices, my pendant is 14ct and wedding set will be 18ct white.
 
I wear white metal so I have zero problems with 10k. After it''s plated, it all looks the same to me. (and I prefer the look of rhodium to platinum because it''s much whiter.)

For yellow gold, the color is bad for me to begin with but higher karat does make it look a bit better so I would avoid 10kyg for that reason alone.
 
I chose a 10k college class ring because I had read that it was harder and wanted the design on the ring to last a lifetime. Generally, I would prefer higher purity, but not because I care what others think... it''s not like they could get a magnifying lens out and see the inside of my ring to check the stamp!
 
I''ll admit to being a bit of a snob when it comes to gold content. I assume 10K means lesser quality stones and less attention to detail in the workmanship. Yes it can be longer-wearing than 14K (depending on the alloy mix, I suppose) but I''ve yet to have a piece of 14K wear out on me so that''s just not an issue. I have no problem with other metals and I own a lot of sterling silver. I come by my gold snobbery honestly by the way -- via my grandmother, who brought each of her grandchildren a nice piece of 24K jewelry the one time we were fortunate enough to have her visit the U.S.
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