Gold purity

10K, 14K or 18K? Choose the gold for how you wear it.

Karat measures how much of the metal is pure gold. Higher karat looks richer and costs more per gram; lower karat is harder and often better for a ring you never take off. OUVRA works in 10K, 14K, 18K and 22K solid gold — never gold plating passed off as the piece.

By Jeevan Kumar, founder of OUVRA · Updated 16 October 2026

Price a design in your karat

What karat actually means

24K is pure gold. Jewellery gold is an alloy: 18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.5% gold, 10K is 41.7% gold, and 22K is 91.6% gold. The remainder is metals chosen for colour and strength — copper, silver, palladium and others depending on yellow, rose or white gold.

In India, eligible solid-gold jewellery is BIS hallmarked. OUVRA marks pieces with a traceable HUID on eligible purities so the stated karat can be checked in the BIS Care app.

Durability for everyday diamond jewellery

Softer alloys scratch and deform more easily. 22K is beautiful and traditional for many Indian pieces, but for a thin engagement band worn daily many people prefer 18K or 14K.

14K and 10K are harder, so pavé settings and fine bands often hold up better under constant wear. 18K remains the classic balance for colour and daily use on solitaires.

Colour and diamond settings

Yellow and rose gold deepen as karat rises because more of the alloy is gold or copper. White gold is rhodium-finished in many workshops; platinum is a different metal entirely and stays white without plating.

OUVRA prices gold by weight at the day's rate for the purity you choose, so moving from 14K to 18K changes the metal line of the estimate — you see that figure before you commit.

Which should you choose?

Choose 18K when you want rich colour and a classic engagement look. Choose 14K when you want a harder everyday band or a lighter metal cost for the same design. Choose 10K when maximum durability for the budget matters most. Choose 22K when traditional high-gold jewellery is the priority and the design can carry the softness.

There is no single "best" karat — only the best karat for how the piece will be worn.

At a glance

Karat comparison.

Gold karat, pure gold content and typical use
Karat	Gold content	Best for
10K	41.7%	Hardest of the common jewellery alloys; practical for fine everyday bands.
14K	58.5%	Strong everyday wear with clear gold colour; popular for pavé and active use.
18K	75%	Classic engagement balance of colour and durability.
22K	91.6%	Highest gold content; softer — best when the design can carry it.

OUVRA prices gold by weight at the day’s rate for the purity you choose. Compare options in the jewellery estimator.

Frequently asked

Straight answers.

10KT vs 14KT vs 18KT gold: which is better?

None is universally better. 18K has more gold and richer colour; 14K and 10K are harder for daily wear; 22K is highest in gold content and softest. Match the karat to how you will wear the piece.

Is 18K gold good for diamond engagement rings?

Yes. 18K is a common choice for engagement rings: enough gold for colour, and hard enough for everyday wear when the design is sensible. OUVRA also offers 14K, 10K, 22K and platinum.

Does higher karat mean better quality?

Higher karat means more pure gold in the alloy, not automatically better craftsmanship. Setting quality, diamond cut and hallmarking matter as much as the karat stamp.

Is OUVRA gold hallmarked?

OUVRA works in solid gold with BIS hallmarking and a traceable HUID on eligible purities. Verify the HUID in the official BIS Care app.

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