The Definitive Guide to 24k Gold

In this article, Benjamin Khordipour will explain what 24k gold is, review some pros and cons of 24k gold jewelry, and touch on some frequently asked questions regarding 24k gold. Benjamin Khordipour is an expert in jewelry and gemology, making him a trusted authority on the topic.

• Pros and Cons of 24k Gold
• Different Types of 24k Gold Jewelry
• How Much is 24 Karat Gold Worth?
• How to Sell 24k Gold Jewelry

What Is 24k Gold?

24k gold is the purest form of gold, meaning, unlike lower karat gold, no other metals are mixed in.

The karat of gold is a measurement of how much of the metal is actually gold. This measurement is out of 24 parts, so 24k gold means all 24/24 parts are gold. Likewise, 18-karat gold would be 75% gold and 25% other metals. 12k gold would be 50% gold and 50% other metals, and so on.

Pros and Cons of 24k Gold

24 karat gold is appealing, but it’s important to be realistic and examine both the positives and negatives.

Pros

• Since 24 karat gold jewelry features pure gold, it is more valuable.
• In terms of quality and visual appeal, 24k gold jewelry is more consistent than lower-karat gold pieces. There are no metals mixed in, so there is less room for variance.
• Although somewhat subjective, the irresistible beauty of pure gold is difficult to exaggerate. Lower karat gold certainly does not replicate the yellow-orange hue of pure gold.
• Investing in 24k gold (jewelry or otherwise) is an excellent strategy. Over the years gold has shown a strong ability to not only retain its value but increase in value as the average cost of goods and services increases. In other words, it is quite resistant to the negative effects of inflation.
• The metals from lesser karat gold jewelry can cause allergic reactions. Since 24k gold is pure gold, allergies are less of a concern.

Cons

• 24k gold is quite soft and malleable. This makes it less than ideal for jewelry as it is more vulnerable to scratching and bending.
• As compared to its lower karat counterparts, 24k gold is the most expensive option.
• 24k gold jewelry is high value and delicate. Therefore it’s generally wise to wear 24k gold jewelry less frequently than other types of jewelry.
• 24k gold jewelry tends to be more delicate and prone to wear. This means that additional time and effort in maintaining it may be necessary.

Different Types of 24k Gold Jewelry

Since 24k gold is very soft and delicate, it is not conventionally recommended for everyday jewelry.

That being said, there are types of 24-karat gold jewelry:

• Most ring designs will not be suited for 24 karat gold, but bigger and chunkier pieces can be an exception.
• Stud earrings are the most viable type of 24 karat gold earrings because they are generally small and stable.
• Necklaces are generally a better choice for 24 karat gold because they are naturally less prone to wear and tear.
• Bracelets are typically not the best choice because they are very exposed and vulnerable however, bangles may be suitable.

Estate Diamond Jewelry is a trusted authority on all things jewelry. If you’re interested in learning more or want to find the perfect 24-karat gold jewelry, then feel free to reach out using the contact form at the end of this article.

How Much Is 24 Karat Gold Worth?

As of mid-June 2024, the latest pricing of 24k gold is approximately $2,126 per ounce ($75 per gram). Looking at gold prices over the last decade, there has been a clear and steady increase. The lowest value for 24 karat gold over the last decade was approximately $965 per ounce ($34 per gram).

Due to gold’s reliable increase in value over time, it’s never a bad time to invest in 24k gold (including jewelry). If you have 24k gold jewelry from years ago, then you may be surprised by how much value it has accumulated.

How to Sell 24k Gold Jewelry

The best way to sell 24 karat gold jewelry is through a reputable jeweler with experience.

In order to do so you may need some documentation including your I.D. and proof of ownership (a receipt or certificate of authenticity). You may also need to get an appraisal.

Generally, selling your jewelry online is the most convenient option and will likely fetch a higher price, but you may also try local jewelry stores or pawn shops. If selling online, then consider the turnaround time for an appraisal.

Estate Diamond Jewelry is the perfect choice because our team has an excellent reputation, and the experience to back it up. If you’re considering buying or selling 24 karat gold jewelry, then don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact form at the end of this article.

Care and Maintenance of 24k Gold Jewelry

Compared to their lower karat counterparts, 24k gold jewelry is more vulnerable to normal wear and tear. Properly caring for and maintaining such a piece requires understanding and following some basic guidelines regarding storing, cleaning, and preventing wear.

Storage

Proper storage begins with devoting an exclusive place to keep your 24k gold jewelry for it and it alone.

The second aspect is to ensure that the place for your jewelry is adequate. This means it should be somewhere soft and unexposed. A velvet or fabric pouch or a jewelry box are excellent options.

Expert Tip: If you’re storing a necklace, consider keeping it unclasped and laid out to prevent tangling. Also, ensure it remains unexposed and only comes into contact with soft materials like velvet or fabric.

Cleaning

The most involved part of care and maintenance is cleaning. While we recommend getting a professional cleaning every once in a while, there’s no harm in cleaning at home. This simple process contains 5 steps: mixing together a cleaning solution, soaking, scrubbing, rinsing, and drying.

Steps to Clean Gold at Home

1. Mix together a cleaning solution by using warm water and mild dish soap. Note that the water should not be hot. Also, no need for much soap, only a few drops should do.
2. Some recommend soaking for up to 3 hours for the best result. However, if soaking for just 15 to 20 minutes, acceptable results should be achievable.
3. When scrubbing it’s important to be gentle and use gentle tools as 24k gold is very delicate. Scrub the piece with a clean and soft-bristled brush. A baby-sized toothbrush may work rather well here, but any soft-bristled brush will do. A cloth may work especially well for more intricate areas. Finally, you may also opt for a cotton swab, but just be sure to not leave any fibers behind.
4. When it comes to rinsing, just be sure to use lukewarm water and to be thorough as you won’t want to leave behind any soap residue.
5. When drying, keep in mind the delicacy of 24k gold jewelry. Gently pat the piece dry with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. Microfiber cloths specifically designed for jewelry can be an excellent option here both for drying and gently polishing. You may also air dry if you like, in which case we would recommend a fan or hair dryer.

Cleaning Tips

Now that we’ve covered the steps of the home-cleaning process, we’d like to emphasize a few important points:

• We don’t recommend wearing a 24k gold piece every day, but if you do then consider doing home cleanings about once a month- otherwise, every 2 to 3 months should suffice.
• When your 24k gold jewelry gets particularly dirty or exposed to any chemicals, you should clean it as soon as possible. Pure gold is very chemically unreactive, but we recommend these precautions in order to keep the piece in the best condition for as long as possible.
• Avoid using any harsh chemicals or tools when cleaning. Bleach or any abrasive tools when scrubbing or drying may cause damage to the jewelry. This includes having a gentle touch.
• If you’re using a commercial cleaner, then be sure it’s specifically formulated for gold. And be sure to follow the instructions very carefully.
• Finally, we recommend that you take the piece to a professional at least twice a year to have it cleaned and polished. For the purposes of keeping the piece in its best condition, it’s important to allow a professional to help maintain it as they have specialized equipment and, more importantly, a lot of experience. They will without a doubt be able to clean the piece more thoroughly and safely.

When Not to Wear 24k Gold Jewelry

Preventing wear is arguably the most important step when it comes to 24k gold jewelry since it is so vulnerable. The best practice is to be discerning about when you choose to wear the piece.

We recommend not wearing 24k gold jewelry when doing household or outdoor chores, preparing food, applying cosmetics, going to the gym, or going to sleep. If it’s not a special occasion, then really consider leaving the piece safe at home. And when in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of caution; you’d much rather not wear it when you could have than wear it when you shouldn’t have.

Again, 24k gold is a very soft and malleable material meaning it will easily bend and scratch, so keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to wear 24k gold jewelry.

24k Gold Color

24 karat gold is renowned for its magnificent orange-yellow color.

The misconception that there is such a thing as 24k rose or white gold is quite common. We achieve these alternative colors by mixing in other metals. Since 24k gold has no metals mixed in, alternative-colored 24k gold simply can’t exist.

Of the common gold shades, yellow gold is the only appropriate color to refer to 24k gold. However, yellow gold can also refer to gold with metals mixed in. In other words, all 24-karat gold is yellow gold, but not all yellow gold is 24 karats.

Properties of 24k Gold

Gold has many unique properties which make it both useful and mesmerizing, and when it comes to 24k gold these properties are at their most extreme.

• The color of pure gold is a bright yellow to orange hue. You’ll notice that the richness and purity of gold’s color go hand-in-hand with the gold’s purity. The bottom line is that there is no substitute for the color of 24 karat gold.
• Pure gold is very soft. This means that it can scratch quite easily.
• 24k gold is the most malleable metal, meaning that it can endure more compression than any other metal before breaking. In other words, it can easily flatten, bend, and mold into various shapes.
• 24 karat gold is the most ductile metal, which means that it can endure more tensile pressure than any other metal before breaking. In other words, it has the highest capacity to be stretched.
• Compared to other metals, gold is one of the most dense. Specifically, its density is 19.3 g/cm3.
• Gold is one of the most chemically stable or inert elements, meaning that 24 karat gold is one of the least chemically reactive elements. This means that it does not readily combine with other elements to form compounds.

History and Culture of Gold

Historical and cultural context not only shows how important gold has been over the years, but it is also quite fascinating.

Worldwide Reputation of Gold

It’s no secret that historically gold has served a significant role worldwide, even symbolically. Just consider gold’s meaning in the context of rankings or awards during competition; whether it’s something as ubiquitous and prestigious as the Olympics, or as trivial as leaderboards in a video game, it’s universally known and understood that gold represents the top score or first place.

We’ve all heard phrases like “a heart of gold”, “golden boy”, “a gold mine of information”, “as good as gold”, and so on. So where did this connection to excellence come from? Why is gold considered synonymous with wealth and why is it so intuitively understood to mean “the best”?

The First Gold Coin

The details surrounding the first gold coin are debated among historians, but most believe it was created by King Croesus of Lydia around the 6th century B.C. After the Lydian king was captured by the Persians in 546 B.C. the gold coin saw a sharp rise in popularity as the Persians took a liking to the use of gold as currency and adopted the practice.

Centuries later the practice remains popular, but what exactly made this beautiful material such an excellent source of currency?

Gold’s Appeal as Currency

The allure begins with its visual appeal; its bright yellow-orange color, the way it shimmers and shines; there’s no denying that gold has always had a way of enchanting us. But beyond this, there were many practical reasons for gold to be used.

Gold was easy to handle and transport, and was easy to re-coin into smaller or larger units without loss of value. What’s more, it’s unique enough to be easily distinguished from other materials, making it quite fungible. Additionally, gold is relatively rare. These aspects mean that pure gold has an excellent value-to-weight ratio and it’s more difficult to counterfeit especially due to its unmatched properties (e.g. density) between other metals. Finally, the inertness of pure gold makes it future-proof and reliable as it will not easily corrode or tarnish over time.

Gold Today

This is all quite interesting to be sure, but it’s also rather relevant to us today even though gold coins have no longer been in circulation as money since the 1930s. Many of the reasons for its prominence as currency have translated well into a means by which to invest. Indeed, although gold coins are no longer generally used as day-to-day currency, they retain their significance as a material of wealth and value.

Alternative Uses and Applications of 24k Gold

When it comes to 24k gold or gold in general, the first use that most think of is probably jewelry, but gold may surprise you in its versatile myriad of alternative uses and applications.

Investing

Investing in gold is an excellent place to start as this is probably the second thing that one might consider after using it as jewelry. In fact, it is perhaps a more sensible use as not only does 24k gold have some drawbacks in regards to jewelry, but as a means of investment, it’s excellent.

Investing in gold is a good idea as its value tends to rise alongside the cost of living; this means you may essentially mitigate the effects of inflation to a certain extent by investing in gold. Thinking practically, because there are also many uses outside of jewelry it’s easy to be confident in gold’s long-term value.

Besides its undeniable luster that has captivated mankind for centuries, gold is undeniably a good investment.

Gold in Technology

Gold also has some properties that work extremely well in its favor towards being a coveted material for alternative applications. It is the most malleable metal, it’s an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, it is very chemically inert, it is one of the densest metals on earth, and it is the most ductile metal.

Even without any further information, these extreme properties should hint at an almost limitless potential. Indeed, we seek gold for use in electronics, medical devices, skin care products, dentistry, space exploration, and more!

Gold in Space Exploration

Did we mention that gold can be used for radiation shielding? That’s correct, right when you thought gold could not get any cooler. Since gold is so highly malleable, it will not break when beaten into a thin translucent sheet. Pair that with its infrared radiation blocking, and you have an excellent material for the visors of space suits.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section let’s explore some of the most frequently asked questions and clear up some misconceptions.

Can White Gold be 24k?

Contrary to popular belief, 24k white gold simply can not exist. We achieve white gold by mixing gold with other metals, while 24k gold features no metals mixed in.

Is There 24 Karat Rose Gold?

Similarly to 24k white gold, 24k rose gold is another impossibility. Just like white gold, we make rose gold by mixing gold with other metals, and 24k gold is pure gold.

Can 24k Gold Be Yellow Gold?

Unlike rose gold and white gold, 24k gold may be yellow gold. Pure 24k gold is technically always what we would call “yellow gold”. However, yellow gold may include other metals in which case it is not 24k gold.

Are 24 Carats and 24 Karats the Same?

It’s important to distinguish between “karats” and “carats”. Simply put, in the United States “carats” refers to the weight of a gemstone (e.g. diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, etc.), while ”karats” conveys a measurement of gold purity. In other words, the karat value expresses the ratio of gold in a metal alloy, while “carats” has nothing to do with gold whatsoever. Specifically, each karat represents 1/24 parts of the whole, which is why 24k equates to pure gold.

You would never say 24 karat diamond or 24k diamond. Similarly, you would be incorrect to say 24 carat gold or 24 ct gold. You may be able to refer to a 24 carat diamond, although this would be abnormally large.

Can Carats Refer to Gold?

The term “carats” is more commonly used to refer to gold purity in many countries including the UK, Australia, and many Asian countries. However, in countries like the U.S. and Canada, it is improper to use the term “carats” to refer to gold in any way.

Why Measure Karats in 24 Parts?

We measure gold karats in 24 parts due to roots in the Roman measurement system. Additionally, people have maintained this convention due to mathematical convenience, cultural continuity, and ease of standardization across regions.

Emperor Constantine of the Roman Empire began using a new gold coin in 309 CE which held a mass of 24 siliqua which was a fraction of the Roman pound (libra). Since gold was used around the world, yet there was no purity standard, the Roman measurement was accepted.

This use of 24 units began with the Roman Empire and persisted because it was adopted by the rest of the world in order to maintain some uniformity. Not only this, but the number is highly composite meaning there are many numbers by which it cleanly divides without a remainder, making it very convenient mathematically.

Shop With an Expert

If you’re considering purchasing 24K jewelry, then don’t make the mistake of taking the journey alone. Feel free to reach out to one of our jewelry experts and we will gladly help you find the perfect 24K gold piece for you. Simply complete the contact form below, give us as much information as possible, and we’ll respond promptly.