When buying jewelry, it's important to know whether it's made of 9, 14 or 18-carat gold. This is an essential criterion, as it marks the level of quality and resistance of your jewel. At Paulette à Bicyclette, the quality of our jewelry reflects the expertise of our jewelers. That's why we only useFairmined 18-carat gold gold for our creations. But then, what's the difference with the 9 and 14 carat gold you can find in some jewelry stores?
You may also have heard of vermeil. A technique now widely used, it consists of making silver jewelry while applying a thin layer of gold, at least 5 microns thick.
9-carat gold
9-carat gold, otherwise known as 350/1000 gold, is the least expensive gold on the market. It is composed of approximately 37.5% pure gold and 62.5% alloys such as silver, zinc and copper. It is much harder than 18-carat gold, but tends to oxidize rapidly. The metals in the alloy are very sensitive to your skin's pH or to high temperatures. It is also much more brittle in the event of impact, and marks particularly quickly when scratched.
The hallmark for 9-carat gold is a three-leaf clover. To check, simply ask the jeweller for his expert's magnifying glass!
Ultimately, if you're planning to buy a piece of jewelry for everyday wear, we don't advise you to opt for 9-carat gold. It's certainly much cheaper, but it's also less brilliant and less durable than 18-carat gold.
14-carat gold
14-carat gold, also known as 585/1000 gold, is composed of 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% alloys such as silver, zinc or copper. This type of gold is particularly popular in northern countries and the United States. It's a very common measure, as it allows you to acquire jewelry at a very affordable price. Be aware, however, that 14-carat gold will tend to mark much more quickly than 18-carat gold over time.
The hallmark for 14-carat gold is a scallop shell.
18-carat gold
18-carat gold, also known as 750/1000 gold, is the most sought-after gold in the jewelry world. Composed of 75% pure gold and 25% alloys such as silver and copper, it is particularly easy to handle.
Did you know? 18-carat gold is harder and more resistant than 24-carat gold. 24-carat gold is 100% pure gold, but is particularly soft and therefore not recommended for the creation of jewelry.
In terms of price, 18-carat gold is certainly more expensive, but it certifies the jewel's resistance and durability to life's elements.
That's why at Paulette à Bicyclette, we use only Fairmined-certified 18-carat gold for all our creations.
We invite you to consult our page on the different colors of 18-carat gold we offer: yellow gold, rose-champagne gold, red gold, white gold and palladium-plated white gold.
Did you know? The hallmarks used to identify 18-carat gold are an eagle's head or the "750" hallmark.
And the vermeil?
You may have heard of vermeil. This technique refers to a process whereby gold is plated onto jewelry. It's a different method from gold plating, since the material used at the base of the jewel is silver and not some other material.
To be certified vermeil in France, the gold layer must be at leastmust be at least 5 microns.
What type of gold do we use to create our ethical jewelry?
All our jewelry is made from Fairmined 18-carat gold. Like most French jewelers, we opted for 18-carat gold because it's the easiest type of gold to use for jewelry-making. It's also a resistant gold that lasts very well over time.
The gold we use is ethical and fair trade. It is certified by a label created in 2004 by a Colombian NGO: the Fairmined label.
Fairmined is a certification that guarantees fair trade gold. The gold extracted comes from artisanal mining cooperatives that respect the environment and human rights.
Here are the most important points of the Fairmined certification specifications:
- no child labor in mines
- decent and equal pay for women and men
- safe working conditions and adapted equipment
- For the purchase of 1kg of gold, we pay a premium of €4,000 to the mining cooperatives.
The aim of this bonus is to contribute to the development of mining communities by financing, for example, training for mine rescue workers, developing culture, financing school scholarships for miners' children, and improving the quality of life of local residents through infrastructure (retirement home, purchase of an ambulance, restoration of schools, etc.).
If you'd like to find out more about the Fairmined label, we invite you to read our article on the subject: Recycled gold or Fairmined gold?
If you have any questions about gold or vermeil titration, our team will be happy to answer them. Please do not hesitate contact usor make an appointment in one of our boutiques in Paris & Lyon!
