About 10K Gold

The purity of gold is measured in carats, 24 carats being with pure gold. Gold little notes contain other metals mixed with it to make the final product more difficult and therefore more robust. Ten-carat is the lowest category that can be sold in the U.S. as "gold", according to Federal Trade Commission.


A carat is a measure of the fineness of gold.

Pure gold is called 24 karat (24K). Pure gold is very soft and easily damaged, however, if other metals such as nickel and silver are almost always mixed with gold to make it more durable. Other metals than gold in an alloy are called "base metals." Regular classes of gold in jewelry are 18K, 14K and 10K. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission ruled that 10K is the lowest grade of gold that can be sold as such in the U.S. Ten karat gold jewelry is usually much cheaper than its counterparts 18K or 14K, and resist the normal wear.

It is important to learn if you can, which are the base metals in the alloy of 10K jewelry you are considering buying. Many people can have allergic reactions to base metals, including nickel. Earrings for pierced ears that contain nickel, for example, can cause severe allergic reactions and ear infections. The term "10K Gold" means a mixture of gold and other metals.

The term "gold plate 10K," on the other hand, refers to a layer of that grade of gold which is glued to the outside of jewelry made from a different metal. The gold plated jewelry often has a bright gold color, but sooner or later, the gold plate will fade. Recently, jewelry made from silver gilt enjoyed renewed popularity. Vermeil is sterling silver, which is 92.5 percent pure silver, covered with gilding.

French jewelry manufacturers invented the process in the 1700s and the product was immediately popular. Again, the minimum fineness of gold vermeil used may not be less than 10K in the U.S. The FTC does not require gold jewelry bear a stamp, or imprint, define its carat grade, but officials Renowned jewelry stamp their products anyway. The stamp will be tiny and in a discreet location, so you can have the look, but well worth the effort to have this insurance. If you can not find a stamp, ask the seller to provide you with documentation of the content of gold in the commodity.