WHAT'S THE SKINNY ON 14K GOLD-FILLED JEWELRY?



If you've been wondering what the buzz is about 14K gold-filled jewelry, trust us — it's worth the hype! Whether you're shopping for yourself or a loved one, gold-filled jewelry can be an amazing investment. Let's take a closer look at this popular style of jewelry and why it's so beloved by those in the know.


WHAT DOES 14K MEAN?


14k is an abbreviation for "14 karat," which is the measure of purity used to describe gold jewelry. It simply means that 14 out of 24 parts of the metal are pure gold, with the remaining 10 parts being a mixture of other metals such as silver or zinc; the higher the karat, the more valuable and pure the gold.


WHAT DOES 14K GF MEAN ON JEWELRY?


14k gf on jewelry stands for 14 karat gold fill. This type of metal consists of a thick layer of real gold applied to a base metal like brass or silver. It's much more affordable than solid gold, but still looks great!


WHAT IS 14K GOLD-FILLED ?


14k gold is an alloy of gold and other metals. The karat stamp (14k) indicates how much pure gold is in the alloy. In this case, 14 out of 24 parts are pure gold. What percentage is this? 14k gold contains 58.3% pure gold, and the remaining 41.7% is composed of other metals like copper, nickel, and zinc.


However, 14k gold-filled is not the same as 14k gold and does not contain 58.3% pure gold. It only contains a thick layer of pure gold bonded to a base layer (usually copper, brass, or silver) through intense heat & pressure. This intense manufacturing process makes 14k gold very durable.


WHAT DOES 14K GOLD BONDED MEAN?


This is just another way of describing 14k gold-filled jewelry, which is bonded together through a heat and pressure system.

 

BENEFITS OF 14K GOLD FILLED:


When it comes to gold-filled jewelry, the biggest benefit is that you get all of the beauty and shine of solid gold without having to break your budget. This form of jewelry also requires very little maintenance — just a gentle polishing cloth from time to time — and will stay looking new for many years to come. Plus, 14K gold-filled jewelry is a more hypoallergenic option than 10K, meaning it's less likely to cause any skin irritations or reactions. 14k gold-filled also contains a layer of hard metal (14k), meaning that it won't develop scratches from wear and tear as quickly as higher karat gold options (such as 20k or 22k gold).

 

WILL 14K TARNISH QUICKER THAN 18K GOLD-FILLED?


Yes, 14k gold-filled will show signs of tarnish before 18k gold-filled. This is because 18k and higher karat gold-filled options contain a higher percentage of pure gold (which never tarnishes, corrodes, or rusts). However, tarnish can be cleaned and removed from gold jewelry, so don't worry too much!

 

HOW TO PREVENT 14K GOLD FILLED FROM TARNISHING:


When it comes to 14K gold-filled jewelry, a little maintenance goes a long way! Here are some tips to help your pieces stay looking stylish and luxurious:


- Keep your 14K gold-filled jewelry away from water, cleaners, lotions, and perfumes. These can cause tarnishing or discoloration.


-Remove jewelry before exercising or engaging in any activity that could cause abrasions or scratches. In addition, the salty content in sweat from an intense workout is bad for gold, as it accelerates the tarnishing process.


-Remove your jewelry before showering, bathing, and swimming. Tap water and chlorine can both dull and damage your gold-filled jewelry's shine.


- Store each piece in an airtight container to keep out moisture, dust, and other environmental contaminants. Keep each piece in its own compartment separated from other pieces, so they don’t scratch against one another. Throw in a few silica gel packs to keep the moisture at bay.


-Regularly clean your jewelry with warm water and mild soap, then dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth.


- Use a jewelry cloth after every wear to clean away dirt and dust that can accumulate on the surface of your pieces. 


HOW TO CLEAN 14K GOLD-FILLED JEWELRY:


Cleaning 14k gold-filled jewelry is surprisingly simple. All you need is a soft cotton cloth, warm water, and mild soap. Start by dampening the cloth with warm water and adding a few drops of mild soap. Gently rub the cloth in a circular motion on your jewelry's surface and then rinse off with warm water. Finally, dry your piece thoroughly with the soft cotton cloth. Voila! Clean gold-filled jewelry that looks like it was just crafted yesterday!


If your jewelry still looks a bit dull, you can take it a step further by polishing with a jewelry polishing cloth. Gently rub the piece in a circular motion and watch as it sparkles back to life! It's that easy!


WRAPPING UP:


We hope you now understand what 14k gold-filled jewelry is and how it's made. 14k gold-filled jewelry is an excellent alternative to solid gold and offers many of the same benefits at a fraction of the price. So next time you're in the market for some new bling, be sure to keep gold-filled jewelry in mind!