Table of Contents
- Comparison of color retention performance of different materials
- Choosing 925 sterling silver with gold plating may better meet the practical needs
- How do businesses that falsely advertise 925 silver plating as gold on the market ensure anti-oxidation properties?
- Regarding false advertising for mismatched goods, we provide a simple method of identification.
Comparison of color retention performance of different materials
When it comes to 14k gold's color retention ability, today we are going to compare it with 18k and 24k gold. First, let's take a look at these necklaces:
The owl brand necklace purchased in Turkey is made entirely of 14k gold, while the necklaces on the left and right sides are made entirely of 18k and 24k gold, respectively. The 18k gold on the far left and the 4 strands of 24k gold on the far right are both over 10 years old, while the 14k gold and the 3 strands of 18k gold in the middle were just purchased last year. Let's group them according to age and put the ones with large reflective surfaces together:
Next, let's compare these three necklaces to see the difference in color retention between 18k and 24k gold. When we zoom in, we can see that the color and luster of the two pure 24k gold necklaces on the left and right are not significantly different, but the color and luster of the 18k gold necklace on the left have already begun to fade. These two materials usually don't show much difference within 5 years, and it takes a long time to see the quality differentiation:
When we put these four necklaces purchased last year together for comparison, we can see that the 14k gold necklace, which is used the least frequently, has the worst color and luster. However, it has only been a year, and we can already see the mark of time on this 14k gold necklace:
Let's compare these two necklaces, one made entirely of 4k gold on the left, and the other made of 925 silver plated with 14k gold on the right. One was purchased in Turkey during the May Day holiday, and the other was purchased from a certain luxury brand in the United States that starts with the letter "M". Although its color retention ability is slightly worse than that of 18k gold, it is still much better than the one on the right:
First of all, I must state that the frequency of use of the two necklaces is about the same. They were worn no more than 5 times after purchase, and each time they were worn for no more than 4 hours. You can already see obvious discoloration and oxidation on the 925 silver plated with 14k gold necklace on the right, from a certain global and mature luxury brand. Its craftsmanship and quality control standards are definitely higher than those of most products sold in S**n and Tm stores, but even So, 14k gold plating can still experience oxidation, discoloration, and rust.
PS: This oxidation phenomenon is normal, which is why jewelry needs maintenance (Our Care Guide).
Choosing 925 sterling silver with gold plating may better meet the practical needs.
Although 14K gold offers better anti-oxidation properties compared to 14K silver-plated gold, it is important to consider factors such as price and cost-effectiveness when deciding which material is more suitable for daily use.
14K Gold, being a solid gold alloy containing 58.5% pure gold, is more expensive than 14K silver-plated gold, which consists of a silver base plated with a layer of gold. This makes 14K silver-plated gold a more budget-friendly option for consumers who want the appearance of gold without the higher price tag.
Additionally, the 14K gold plating provides a reasonable level of protection against oxidation for everyday wear, making it a practical choice for those seeking a balance between aesthetics and affordability.
In conclusion, while 14K gold may have superior anti-oxidation properties, Choosing 14K silver-plated jewelry offers More advantages, including affordability, versatility in design, hypoallergenic properties, easy maintenance, and eco-friendliness. It provides a cost-effective and stylish option that is suitable for daily wear and allows for creative self-expression through layering and mixing with other jewelry materials.
How do businesses that falsely advertise 925 silver plating as gold on the market ensure anti-oxidation properties?
Some people may ask me, "I have bought a 14k gold or gold-plated product, which has not changed color after wearing it for two or three years. Why is that?"
Before answering this question, I hope you understand one thing. Any metal will undergo oxidation, and I don't need to explain this further. So why are some 14k or gold-plated products very durable and resistant to discoloration?
First of all, let's break down this question. The concept of plating, I believe everyone understands, but from the perspective of cost, the choice of plating material is very important. (The 14k silver plating mentioned earlier needs to be maintained after about a year. Please believe that the author has done market research at great cost.)
As we all know, jewelry plated with 925 silver is less likely to oxidize and turn black than jewelry plated with copper. So, the question is: Today, 1 troy ounce of . 925 silver is worth $23.10 and 1 pound (lb) is worth $336.84 at the market price.So why are there still gold-plated jewelry with strong antioxidant properties selling for just a few dollars on the market?
The answer is simple: using materials with better oxidation resistance than silver and lower cost will suffice.
Nickel
What is nickel?
In short, it is an element found in batteries and stainless steel.
However, as we mentioned earlier, the most common cause of allergies to jewelry is nickel.
In fact, we can also think about this problem from the perspective of cost.
For 14k gold, we calculate the price using publicly available gold prices (Specifically, you can visit https://goldpriceg.com/us/gold-price-usa-14k)
The price of 1g of 14k gold is $65.1 USD. A necklace must be at least 5g, so the cost of a necklace is at least $300 USD. So do you still believe that you can buy a 14k gold necklace for just a few dollars on some platforms?
The gold price of 14k, 18k, and 24k is publicly available and can be found on the above link.
Regarding false advertising for mismatched goods, we provide a simple method of identification.
Finally, regarding color, someone asked me why some necklaces that are also labeled as silver-plated gold, 18k, and priced similarly can still cause allergies, while others do not.
It's still the same old saying: 90% of the reasons why your jewelry causes allergies are due to nickel. I don't want to repeat why anymore.
Is there a quick way to spot fake silver-plated gold products?
Here's a quick way: look at the color.
- The concept of silver plating has an international standard, which is to look at the material composition of the core of the jewelry to determine what it is made of.
- Normal silver-plated gold is made of pure silver as the core, and then plated with 14k, 18k, or 24k metal on the surface.
- However, some merchants, due to cost considerations, will add impurities to the plating layer. The color of the resulting product will appear more yellow and darker than normal silver-plated gold. This is very important.
Great, now that you've read this, I believe you already know the answer to the question below.
How do I choose between 14k, 18k, and 24k?
It depends on your economic situation.
How can I tell if a silver-plated gold product is genuine?
Of course, it is best to choose HotShellow.