16k Gold

[sugarplum]

does anyone own 16k gold jewelry? i ordered an 18k rose gold ring that didn''t look rose enough to me (it looked more yellowish) so i was given the option of getting it in 16k which i was told would make it more rose. i know dental gold is usually 16k. is it weird to use that karatage for a ring? what are the differences between 16k and 18k?

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 5/1/2009 9:41:33 PM
Author:sugar
does anyone own 16k gold jewelry? i ordered an 18k rose gold ring that didn''t look rose enough to me (it looked more yellowish) so i was given the option of getting it in 16k which i was told would make it more rose. i know dental gold is usually 16k. is it weird to use that karatage for a ring? what are the differences between 16k and 18k?

I have never seen 16k gold... 15k was widely used in the UK in the past and is one of my favourites especially in rose gold.

16k will be harder than 18k as there will be more alloy used and less pure gold - pure gold being a very soft metal. I would also talk to them about whether they are plating the finished piece as the plating colour can make a big difference.

 

[sugarplum]

thanks pandora. i don''t think they''re plating it but i''ll check. i know the 16k will be harder than 18k. wondering what the percentages are for the diff alloys that go into 16 and 18.

 

[AGBF]

sugar,

You should ask this on the gold thread!


AGBF

 

[sugarplum]

thanks AGBF. i''ve posted there as well.

 

[strmrdr]

Since 18k rose gold is
Rose Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Copper 22.25%
Silver 2.75%

It is likely that 16k Rose gold would be:
66.7% gold
~3% silver
Rest copper ~30%

The silver is to help make it workable as just gold and copper is very brittle.
The copper gives it the red tint
I would be harder than 18k but also slightly more pron to corrosion.