18K or 21K: Which Gold Suits Your Piece?

The karat tells you how much pure gold a piece contains. 21K is 87.5% gold and 18K is 75%; the rest are metals that add hardness and set the colour. 21K is familiar in Saudi markets for bangles and traditional sets, with a deep yellow colour, but it is too soft to hold small stones securely. That is why most diamond and gemstone pieces are made in 18K: the claws and bezels stay tight around the stone for years, and the piece takes daily wear without bending. 18K is also what makes white gold possible, since its colour comes from the metals added to it. If a piece is an investment or for occasions, 21K is an understandable choice; if it is a ring or necklace with stones that you will wear every day, 18K suits it better.