Picture this: You’re at brunch with your girls when the topic of fine jewellery comes up. Before long, your besties are debating about 24K gold and whether or not it’s a good metal choice for their accessories. They ask you for your input but unfortunately, you have none because you aren’t familiar with this type of metal.
Does this image seem familiar?
‘Cause if so, this article is just what you need to sound like a 24K gold expert… From its meaning to its pros and cons, we’ve noted everything you need to know about 24-karat gold in this article.
Buckle up and read on…
What Is 24K Gold?
Before we answer that…let’s talk about gold in general!
You see, pure gold is kind of like the diva of the metal world – Beautiful but perhaps a tad too delicate for the rough and tumble of daily life. To give its durability a boost, it’s often paired with a variety of strong alloy metals like copper and silver, for instance.
Based on the quantity of alloy metals thrown into the mix, gold can be found in several purity levels – All of which are categorized by the karat system. In a nutshell, this system is used to measure the purity of gold by calculating the total amount of pure gold content (per 24 parts) used to create a jewellery piece.
Coming back to 24K gold…
With 24 out of 24 parts constituting pure gold, this metal is the purest type of gold available in the market today. In terms of gold percentage, 24K gold is about 99.9% pure. It’s basically the James Bond of the precious metal world – Smooth, sophisticated and maybe a bit too soft for its own good.
Yes, you read that last part correctly!
Thanks to its high gold content, this metal can be bent and scratched easily which is why it’s rarely used to create fine jewellery.
Also Read: The Evolution of Gold Jewellery
So, What Can 24K Gold Be Used For?
For the most part, 24K gold is used to create coins and bullions.
That’s right – Talk about a shiny investment!
Apart from the above, it’s also used to enhance several objects like religious icons and Olympic medals, for instance.
And if you thought that this metal was just another pretty face, think again… It also has several industrial uses – The most popular ones are as follows:
1. Dentistry
Thanks to its chemical inertness, non-allergenic properties and the fact that it’s easy to insert, pure gold has become the VIP of dental work. From fillings to crowns to bridges and even orthodontic appliances, quite a few things used by dentists contain this metal.
2. Medicine
Gold, in salt or radioisotope form, can be used to alleviate conditions like severe rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis.
What’s more, this metal can also be used to treat lagophthalmos, i.e., the inability to close one’s eyes. This is done by placing a tiny amount of gold in the individual’s upper eyelids to help them close their eyes.
3. Aerospace
In the aerospace world, gold isn’t just for show. It’s put to work by lubricating mechanical parts, conducting electricity in circuitry and even coating the insides of spacecrafts. Why? To shield people from the fiery embrace of heat and infrared radiation, of course!
4. Electronics
Gold’s role as a highly efficient, non-corrosive conductor and connector makes it an essential player in the circuitry of different electronics. From your trusty cell phone to that fancy GPS unit you love, every device you own probably has at least a little gold in it. And yes, that includes your computers, where gold is used to ensure your digital data transmits accurately at breakneck speeds.
Also Read: Is Gold Magnetic?
24K Gold Colours: What Are They?
Unlike its karat cousins – 10K, 14K and 18K gold, which come in more colours than a paint store, 24K gold has only one signature colour – a dazzling orange-yellow that can take your breath away.
This is simply because it can’t mix and mingle with metals like silver, zinc, palladium and copper (all of which are required to create that gorgeous rose and white gold appearance) without reducing its purity level.
So, the next time someone tries to sell you a 24K white gold or 24K rose gold sparkler, confidently shake your head in no and tell them you know better.
Also Read: What’s the Difference Between White and Yellow Gold?
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of 24K Gold?
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
It’s quite valuable. |
It’s not very durable. |
|
It features a unique orange-yellow colour. |
Also Read: What is the Difference Between 14k and 18k Gold?
Advantages of 24K Gold
1. Extremely Valuable
If 24K gold were a person, it would be the Elon Musk of precious metals. Thanks to its purity, this metal is undoubtedly the most valuable of the lot. So, if you’re looking to invest in something shiny, make 24K gold your first choice.
2. Unique Colour
Move over other karats – 24K is destined to steal the show with its one-of-a-kind orange-yellow colour. We like to think of it as the gold version of a rare Pokémon – You gotta catch ’em all, but 24K is the legendary one that everyone’s after.
Also Read: What’s The Difference between Rose and White Gold?
Disadvantages of 24K Gold
1. Lack of Durability
TBH, if this metal had to have an Achilles’ heel, it would be its distinct lack of durability. Being pure gold, it’s quite soft and can get scratched and bent easily. So, if you’re allergic to high-maintenance pieces, we recommend skipping this metal.
Did You Know?
If you were to fashion all the gold currently in existence into a wire with a thickness of 5 microns, it could encircle the Earth a staggering 11.2 million times. Pretty cool, huh?
Up Next: How to Test Gold at Home
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does the term ’24K’ gold mean?
24K gold is composed of 99.9% pure gold. It’s considered to be the purest form of gold and is incredibly valuable.
Q2. Can 24K gold be used to create fine jewellery?
Because of its high gold content, 24K gold is quite soft and can therefore be easily scratched or bent. As such, it’s not typically considered appropriate for fine jewellery and is more often used to create gold coins and bars apart from having several other applications.
Q3. What is the colour of 24K gold and does it tarnish?
24K gold features an orange-yellow appearance that is extremely eye-catching. What’s more, being pure gold, this metal does not combine easily with oxygen and therefore cannot tarnish.
