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14k vs 18k Rose Gold Engagement Rings
14k vs 18k Rose Gold
So you’re in the market for a rose gold engagement ring? Solid choice! Rose gold rings are beloved for their vintage aesthetic, as well as their durability, affordability, and romantic connotation.
There’s a lot to learn about when searching for an engagement ring, though. It can be confusing. Karatage? Clarity? Durability? We’ve been putting together some articles to help you learn about some of these things (check out this article on the pros and cons of rose gold engagement rings).
This guide here is all about karatage and mainly focuses on the differences between 14k and 18k rose gold. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
A Quick Lesson On Gold Engagement Rings
Gold rings are defined on a scale of karatage, in which 24k gold represents pure 100% gold. It’s impossible to make jewelry with 24k gold because it is too soft, which is why pure gold is mixed with metal alloys.
| Karats | Percentage of Pure Gold |
| 24k | 100% |
| 22k | 91.7% |
| 18k | 75% |
| 14k | 58.3% |
| 10k | 41.7% |
That’s how we get the different types of gold – white gold, rose gold, yellow gold, etc; by mixing different alloys. White gold is made with a mix of gold and at least one white metal – usually nickel – as well as rhodium plating. Yellow gold includes pure gold and metal alloys like copper and zinc. Finally, rose gold is a mixture of pure gold and copper. The higher the copper content, the darker red the gold is.
The Differences Between 14k and 18k Rose Gold Engagement Rings
As I mentioned, the more copper included in the mixture, the darker red the ring will be. So less copper = lighter rose/champagne colored gold. Now, because 14k gold contains less pure gold than 18k gold does, it is necessary to include more copper. Therefore, 14k rose gold is usually lighter in color than 18k rose gold. Here’s a little summary of the differences:
| 14k Rose Gold | 18k Rose Gold |
| Less pure gold (58.3%) | More pure gold (75%) |
| More copper | Less copper |
| Red/Rose in color | Lighter rose/champagne in color |
| Warmer | Brighter |
| Harder | Softer |
In general, we use 75% gold, 22% copper, 1% zinc and 1% silver in our 18 karat rose gold engagement rings, making them warm, peachy, bright. In our 14 karat rose gold engagement rings, we use 58.5% gold, 36% copper, 2.5% silver, and 1% zinc, resulting in a warmer, darker red engagement ring with vintage tones.
The choice really comes down to your preferences on aesthetics. This guide should give you a good base of knowledge to make that choice, along with the infographic below. And if you found any of this helpful, please share with your friends and even put the infographic on your site!
14k vs 18k rose gold infographic
