10K gold - anyone have it?

[Cockatiel]

I have a question regarding 10K gold. I've never seen it in real life, so I am wondering if someone can chime in.
I have to main qustions...

Does it tarnish?
Is it more allergenic than 14k and 18k gold?

 

[Cockatiel]

And, if it is more allergenic than higher karat gold, is it comparable to costume jewelry in terms of skin reactions?

For example, my ears get itchy if I wear costume jewelry earrings for like a day. Like the stuff you get from Forever 21. Gold fill earrings, I can wear for a day and no itchiness. With actual gold, I've never had a reaction, whether it contains nickel or not. I don't think I have silver earrings, so no idea on silver. I can wear silver rings no problem, although I suppose the finger is not as sensitive of an area as the pierced ears. I'm wondering if 10k has too much non-gold stuff, to cause significantly more skin reactions than 14k or 18k. Thanks!

 

[bludiva]

i have a 10k gold ring, i can't speak to allergies but no issues with tarnishing. the color is unique, slightly coppery to me compared to my 14/18k yellow.

 

[stracci2000]

I have lots of 10k gold in the bottom of my jewelry boxes. It is really common.
Any stones set in 10k are not usually going to be top shelf gems, however.
It is mostly indistinguishable from 14k, in my opinion.
No, it will not discolor, or change in any way. It is very hard and durable.
As for allergies, I guess that depends on the alloys used.

 

[doberman]

You don't specify if you're talking about yellow or white gold. White gold is often mixed with nickel, to which some people are allergic. 10kt yellow gold in general has a higher proportion of alloys to gold content than 14kt or 18kt and is likely to provoke more reactions.

If allergy is a concern I'd stick to 18kt or platinum (and the 18kt white should be alloyed with palladium which is not allergenic.)

 

[MJ_Mac]

You don't specify if you're talking about yellow or white gold. White gold is often mixed with nickel, to which some people are allergic. 10kt yellow gold in general has a higher proportion of alloys to gold content than 14kt or 18kt and is likely to provoke more reactions.

If allergy is a concern I'd stick to 18kt or platinum (and the 18kt white should be alloyed with palladium which is not allergenic.)

Just to add to doberman's post, there will be a higher percentage of copper alloy in 10kt yellow gold. Some people react to copper just as others react to nickel.

 

[Cockatiel]

I was thinking of 10k yellow gold. I've never been allergic to gold alloys but ears feel itchy to costume jewlry earring stuff....I wonder what it is that causes that. I've worn unplated nickel white gold and rose gold without issues. Maybe some base metal in costume jewelry?

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I have a thick 10 carat white gold setting for my andalusite ring. It looks just like my 14 and 18 carat settings to my eye and I have no issues when wearing it. I can't wear 10k yellow gold- it turns my fingers greenish/black.

 

[Cockatiel]

Thanks everyone for chiming in! After listening to you, I have confidence that the 10K will look fine and won't tarnish. I am worried about possible skin reactions though, so I think I am better off with 14K and higher. Thanks again!

 

[737liz]

A lot of 9/10k/14k gold will be dipped/plated in 18k after production 'to increase shine':roll. This is something salespeople might not know. So just know that it may be the same color as 18k because what you are seeing is 18k, and once the plating wears a bit, the underlying gold may be slightly different.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My University ring is 10K and is several decades old and looks like new. I've worn it to work since day 1.

cheers--Sharon

 

[digdeep]

I had one piece made with 10K so I could wear it 'forever'......so far so good and I've had it for years to wear whenever and wherever! No one would know it's 10k from looking at it...........

 

[KittyKatEve]

Thanks everyone for chiming in! After listening to you, I have confidence that the 10K will look fine and won't tarnish. I am worried about possible skin reactions though, so I think I am better off with 14K and higher. Thanks again!

Are you going with a white or yellow gold? If you are normally fine with higher karat white gold you will probably be fine with a 10k since all white gold has to be rhodium plated anyways.

 

[ringo865]

White gold doesn't "have to be plated", but many do. I, along with many others, don't.

10k white gold would naturally be less yellow (or "whellow") because there is less actual gold (10/24ths (41.7%)) and more alloys (14/24ths) which are white colored metals, than 14k (58.5% gold) or 18k (75% gold) have and 10k is less necessary to plate to hide the whellow.

White gold jewelry typically is made from either a gold-palladium-silver or gold-nickel-copper-zinc alloy. About one in eight people experiences a reaction to the nickel-containing alloy, usually in the form of a skin rash. Much of European and some American jewelry manufacturers avoid nickel white gold, since alloys made without nickel are less allergenic. The nickel alloy is most often encountered in older white gold jewelry and in some rings and pins, where the nickel produces a white gold that is strong enough to stand up to the wear and tear these pieces of jewelry experience.

 

[Cockatiel]

White gold doesn't "have to be plated", but many do. I, along with many others, don't.

10k white gold would naturally be less yellow (or "whellow") because there is less actual gold (10/24ths (41.7%)) and more alloys (14/24ths) which are white colored metals, than 14k (58.5% gold) or 18k (75% gold) have and 10k is less necessary to plate to hide the whellow.

White gold jewelry typically is made from either a gold-palladium-silver or gold-nickel-copper-zinc alloy. About one in eight people experiences a reaction to the nickel-containing alloy, usually in the form of a skin rash. Much of European and some American jewelry manufacturers avoid nickel white gold, since alloys made without nickel are less allergenic. The nickel alloy is most often encountered in older white gold jewelry and in some rings and pins, where the nickel produces a white gold that is strong enough to stand up to the wear and tear these pieces of jewelry experience.

I agree I prefer unplated. Sometimes I forget to ask for unplated and end up with plating, and then it's like doh! I don't like it when it wears off unevenly.

I like whellow...as far as it's yellow tinted I like the unplated color. I find some alloys have a grayish cast rather than yellow, especially palladium WGs. I try to avoid those as they are not flattering on me...