Should you buy 10k white gold, how much is it, and is it worth spending your hard-earned money on the 10k white gold?
While gold has always been regarded as the standard of wealth and is a great tool for investment, the truth is that the different versions or alloys of the gold carry different values attached to them.
And so, the ultimate value of the gold piece depends on the percentage of pure gold used to create the alloys. In the case of white gold, you should know that 18k gold is more valuable than 10k gold, thanks to the 75% vs. 41.7% percentage of pure gold present in the alloy.
This applies to the three types of gold, and in this article, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about 10k white gold.
So, what is 10k Gold?
Karat represents the unit that measures the fineness or the purity level of gold. Pure gold is 24K gold and scaled-down; 10 K gold refers to the gold that only has 10 parts out of the 24 parts of pure gold, with the remainder made of 14 parts of the metal alloy.
The 10K gold, therefore, contains 41.7% pure gold, and the remainder is made of alloyed metals at 58.3%, such as zinc, copper, silver, palladium, and nickel. In other words, if a gold alloy has a high karat number, then that version of gold will be more expensive.
How Much is White Gold Per Gram?
So, what’s the value of a gram of white gold?
White gold’s value will depend on the number of grams that make up the white gold alloy, the current or the spot value of the gold, as well as the presence of other metals or precious stones incorporated in the jewelry, and also the brand recognition. Generally, however, one gram of white gold is about $23.9.
To determine the value of the white gold, you’d have to multiply the gold piece’s percentage purity by the weight of the piece of jewelry in grams, and this will give you the total amount of pure gold contained in the piece of jewelry. Once you have this value, multiply it by gold’s current spot/ base price on the market.
In the case of 10k white gold, for example, which has 41.7% gold, you’ll multiply this percentage by the weight of the piece and then by the base value of the gold.
What is 10K white gold made of?
As mentioned above, 10K white gold is a gold alloy that is made of 41.7% pure gold that is alloyed with other metals like zinc, silver, and palladium, making up about 58.3%.
The 10k white gold ring or any other piece of jewelry, for example, contains 41.7% pure gold, 47.4% silver, 10% palladium, and about 0.9% zinc. This means that less than half of the 10k white gold is made of pure gold.
Even with this alloying, the 10k white gold doesn’t look naturally white, with that nice lustrous finish. Instead, the white gold made from 41.7% gold has more of an off-white or a yellowish tinge, thanks to the presence of gold and the rest of the metals it’s alloyed with.
The shiny white finish that we all love from white gold is, in fact, a rhodium-plating finish. This finish is applied to the white gold jewelry because it helps in giving the gold the nice white, lustrous finish while also offering protection to the gold against corrosion.
Rhodium plating of the white gold also enhances the metal’s durability. What this also means is that contrary to popular belief, there really is no pure white gold, and whether you’re looking at a ring made of10K, 14K, or 18K gold.
These alloys of gold are all versions of gold mixed with the white metals, silver, palladium, and zinc, in different proportions, and the result is never pure white gold. The resultant alloy has to be rhodium-plated.
Note that the rhodium plating gives the white gold the platinum-like white finish. So, you shouldn’t be lied to that white gold is a naturally occurring version of gold. But this is not the case, not with any version of the gold alloy.
Even yellow gold and rose gold are metal alloys that result from mixing the pure gold with other metals that result in the yellow or the reddish/pink/rose tones of the yellow and rose gold, respectively.
Is 10K white gold worth anything?
Although 10K white gold contains less than 50% pure gold, with only 41.7% gold composition, the presence of over 40% pure gold in the white gold will add value to the white gold, which means that even the 10K white gold is valuable.
So, if you are planning to sell the white gold ring, necklace, or earrings made of 10k white gold, you will be happy to know that you can actually make some money off the jewelry.
If you are selling a piece of 10k white gold jewelry or buying, you should also be aware of the fact that this version of gold is known as discount white gold or discount gold – which is from the fact that the gold contains less than 50% the amount of pure gold.
So, before you buy the 10k white gold ring or any other kind of jewelry, we recommend looking at the 14k versions of the same jewelry then determining if you can afford them or not. And even when you cannot afford the 14k or 18K, the 10K will still be a nice investment for you.
How much is 10k white gold worth?
The value of the 10k white gold depends on the weight of the piece, gold’s market value at the time, and the presence or absence of other gemstones in the piece of jewelry.
You can determine the value of 10K white gold piece by taking its weight in grams and multiplying it with the gold’s percentage purity, and then by the spot price of gold at the time of the calculation.
If the piece has gemstones, you’ll need details such as the Carat weight, color, clarity, and cut for a better determination of its value.
Pros and cons of 10K white gold
Pros
- It’s a popular metal used for most engagement rings, including earrings, among other kinds of jewelry.
- It is a popular and the most affordable option compared to other white metals like platinum. 10K white gold is essentially the most affordable version of white gold used in jewelry
- It’s a strong and durable metal thanks to its alloying with other metals like palladium, zinc, and silver, which increase its strength.
- Its light and neutral color will leave diamonds with a nice bright white sparkle rather than a pink or yellow tinge of the gemstone.
- It’s beautiful and elegant.
- The perfect option for fair-skinned and rose-toned skin
Cons
- The rhodium plating that gives it the nice white, lustrous finish wears out with time, and you must get it re-plated frequently.
- Not used for high-quality earrings or engagement rings
- There is a risk of allergies, depending on the metals alloyed with the gold to create white old
How Much Does A 10k White Gold Ring Cost?
As mentioned above, the value of white gold jewelry depends on the weight of the piece and the market rates for gold. Gemstones incorporated in the ring may also add to its value.
Should you invest in 10k white gold jewelry?
Yes, you should invest in the 10k white gold ring or jewelry if you are looking for something affordable, durable, and elegant, especially if you like the lustrous white-metal finishes on the jewelry.
But, just know that the 10K white gold might not be ideal for you if you are looking for a high-end or a very valuable piece of jewelry or if you want to eliminate the risk of allergies.
Conclusion
10K white gold is an elegant and affordable gold alloy with a lustrous white finish thanks to the plating with rhodium.
It’s versatile and has some value thanks to the presence of 41.7% pure gold.
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Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.