Gold & Metals Guide
Gold is measured in karats (k). Pure gold is 24k. It’s beautiful, but too soft to keep its shape or hold diamonds securely in everyday wear. The gold used in fine jewellery is an alloy: pure gold mixed with other metals such as silver, copper and zinc to make it stronger and give it its colour. The karat tells you how much of the piece is pure gold.
Gold purity at a glance
| Karat | Pure gold | Stamp | At Matthews Jewellers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | 99.9% | 999 | Too soft for fine jewellery |
| 22k | 91.6% | 916 | Too soft for most fine jewellery |
| 18k | 75.0% | 750 | Our recommended choice for engagement and wedding rings, and most of our fine gemstone jewellery |
| 14k | 58.5% | 585 | Selected pieces |
| 9k | 37.5% | 375 | Most of our other solid gold jewellery |
You’ll usually find the stamp inside a ring band or on a clasp. It shows either the karat (for example 18ct) or the purity number (for example 750).
Why we recommend 18k gold for engagement and wedding rings
A ring you wear every day should last a lifetime. That’s why we recommend 18k gold over 9k, 10k or 14k for engagement rings and wedding rings:
- More durable. Its higher gold content means it wears away more slowly over time.
- Bends rather than snaps. Under pressure, 18k gold is more likely to bend than snap, unlike lower-karat alloys, so a ring can be reshaped and repaired.
- Richer colour. 18k has the deepest, warmest colour of the golds used in fine jewellery.
9k and 14k gold are more affordable options for other jewellery.
Yellow, white and rose gold
Every colour of gold in the same karat contains the same amount of pure gold. The colour comes from the other metals in the alloy.
- Yellow gold is alloyed with silver and copper to keep its warm, traditional colour.
- Rose gold has more copper, which gives it a soft pink tone.
- White gold is alloyed with white metals and finished with rhodium plating for a bright white colour. Rhodium wears with time and can be reapplied. For pieces $2,000 or more, rhodium plating every 18–24 months is included in our Lifetime Care Guarantee.
Platinum
Platinum is a naturally white metal, so it doesn’t need rhodium plating. It’s denser and heavier than gold, and over time it develops a soft satin finish that our jewellers can polish back to a high shine. Across our range, platinum is the same price as 18k white gold, so it’s a great choice if you’d like a white metal without the rhodium upkeep.
Silver filled
Our silver filled pieces have a thick layer of solid gold bonded to a silver core. According to our supplier, the gold layer is about 300 times thicker than standard gold plating or vermeil. Silver filled jewellery can be worn and cared for just like solid gold, and our jewellers can polish it on a polishing wheel. It’s a beautiful, more affordable alternative to solid gold, and you’ll find it in our gold bangles and selected chains.
Gold plated and gold vermeil
We don’t sell gold plated or gold vermeil jewellery.
- Gold plated: a very thin layer of gold over a base metal such as brass or copper. It wears off with regular use.
- Gold vermeil: a thin gold plate over sterling silver.
The gold layer on both can wear through over time, and they can’t be repaired or polished like solid gold.
Questions?
Visit us at our Darby Street or Westfield Kotara boutiques, call Darby St on 0493 544 705 or Kotara on 02 4952 8505, or chat with us using live chat.