Chérie necklace

Gold alloys_ how we craft durable jewelry

As goldsmiths, we work with gold alloys rather than pure gold to create durable, high-quality jewelry. Pure gold, or 24k, is a beautiful metal but too soft for jewelry that’s meant to last. That’s why we blend gold with other metals to form an alloy, making it stronger and more suited for everyday wear.

What is an alloy?

An alloy is a mix of metals, where pure gold is combined with small amounts of other metals like silver, copper, nickel, or palladium. These added metals don’t just harden the gold—they also influence its color and properties. For example:

• Yellow gold alloys keep that classic warm tone of gold but add durability with metals like copper and silver.
• Rose gold has a soft, blush-pink hue due to a higher percentage of copper in the mix.
• White gold combines gold with metals like palladium or nickel, giving it a cool, silver-like tone.

The difference between 14k and 18k gold

In the alloys we use most, 14k and 18k gold, the percentage of pure gold varies:

14k gold_ is 58% pure gold, marked as 585. This alloy is made up of 58% gold and 42% other metals, making it durable, with a slightly lighter color compared to higher karat gold. This is a practical choice for those who want a tough, beautiful piece at a more affordable price.

18k gold_ contains 75% pure gold, marked as 750, with the remaining 25% made up of other metals. This higher gold content gives 18k a warmer color and a luxurious look, though it is a bit softer than 14k.

How we use these alloys

At CdK, we always use recycled gold alloys, meaning that the material has already had a previous life, either in jewelry or industrial applications.

When crafting a piece, we choose the alloy based on the design and the type of wear it will experience.

Rings, which experience a lot of impact in daily wear, benefit from the added strength of a 14k alloy. For designs where color depth is key, such as classic statement pieces, 18k is often preferred for its richer hue.