What Is 24k Gold Used For

Why 24k gold is rarely used for.

What is 24k gold used for.

24k gold is bright yellow 99 9 to 100 pure gold that is not mixed with any other metal. The most common gold purity levels are 10k karat 14k 18k and 24k. A karat is 1 24 part of pure gold by weight so 24 karat gold is pure gold. Although over 75 of the gold used every year is made into jewelry there are other uses.

The gold used for rings bracelets watches and other fine jewelry is rarely 100 pure gold instead it comes in a variety of different purity levels. The main uses were in jewelry 50 and electronics 37. 14k gold is used in jewelry for its hardness 14 karat gold is relatively hard and this is one of the reasons this alloy is a popular choice for jewelry. The purity of gold is defined either in karats or fineness.

And the only way to do that is to reduce the amount of gold used. It s also the preferred form of gold for investors who often purchase 24k gold as bars bullion and coins. The purity or fineness of gold in the jewelry is indicated by its karat number 24 karat 24k or 24 kt gold is as pure as gold gets for jewelry. Data from the usgs mineral commodity summaries for 2019.

Its purity makes it very soft and pliable and. Uses of gold in the united states. 24k gold is 99 99 pure meaning it contains no alloyed metals. Contrary to popular belief there s no single type of gold used for all gold jewelry.

The higher the karat rating of the purest possible being 24 karats the less the gold has been mixed with other metals such as silver or copper to make a gold alloy. Gold that is 24k is also called fine gold and is greater than 99 7 pure gold. Instead 24k gold is often used for decorative wedding jewelry particularly in countries such as china vietnam singapore and thailand. As we know 24k gold is pure so the other numbers in common use 22k 18k 14k 10k all denote a gold purity relative to 24k.

A karat or carat is a unit used to measure the purity and quality of gold. The other 41 7 will consist of other metals. Gold is very flexible and is used in many industries for various purposes depending on the purity. Proof gold is even finer with over 99 95 purity but it is only used for standardization purposes and is not.

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol au from latin. Many industries use gold for jewelry making all the way to food applications. This pie chart shows how gold was used in the united states in 2019 not including gold bullion. 14k gold for example is fourteen twenty fourths pure or 58 3.

Common uses for gold. The difference in purity between 24k and 14k gold results in different levels of hardness affecting how these two materials are used in jewelry. The minting of official coins accounted for 8 of the gold used and 5 was for other uses.