18K gold is 75% pure gold. It is the karat most often used for diamond jewellery and modern designs, because it is harder than 21K or 22K gold and comes in yellow, white and rose. 7 Rain Jewellery sells 18K gold at its second-floor showroom in the Gold Souk, Deira.
What "18K" means
Karat (K) measures gold purity in twenty-fourths. 18K gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals: 75% gold by weight. It is stamped 750.
The other 25% is an alloy. The metals in it decide the colour and add hardness, which is why 18K resists scratches and bending better than higher karats.
Yellow, white and rose gold
| Colour | What gives the colour | Gold content in 18K |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow gold | Gold alloyed with silver and copper | 75% |
| White gold | Gold alloyed with white metals, usually finished with rhodium plating | 75% |
| Rose gold | Gold alloyed with more copper | 75% |
The colour does not change the gold content. An 18K piece is 75% gold whatever its colour.
18K compared with 21K and 22K
| Karat | Gold content | Stamp | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18K | 75.0% | 750 | Diamond and gem settings, modern designs, white and rose gold |
| 21K | 87.5% | 875 | Traditional sets, bangles and necklaces |
| 22K | 91.6% | 916 | Bridal and heritage jewellery |
A gram of 18K costs less than a gram of 21K on the same day, because it holds less gold. Choose 18K when the design matters most or the piece carries stones. Choose 21K or 22K when you want more gold in the piece. Our 21K gold guide covers the higher karats in detail.
Diamonds and 18K gold
Most diamond jewellery is set in 18K gold: the harder metal holds a stone securely. We sell certified diamond jewellery with natural and lab-grown diamonds, and we make custom pieces in 18K gold to order.
Buying 18K gold from 7 Rain Jewellery
Branch 3: Office 202, 2nd Floor, Galaxy Plaza Hotel Building, Gold Souk, Deira, Dubai. Open daily from 09:30 to 22:00. Every piece is weighed in front of you, and the weight, the day's 18K rate, the making charge and VAT are written out separately.