To insure that your jewelry stays as beautiful as the day you bought it, it is important to pay attention to the karat weight of your ring or brooch. Most experts advise against using 24 karat gold for jewelry. This is pure gold and it can be easily damaged due to its softness. Another reason to make sure you are aware of your jewelry's karat amount is that it is illegal to sell anything less than 10 karats as gold in the United States.

14 karat gold is very popular in the United States because it combines the beauty of gold with a high level of durability. Because 14 karat gold mixes 14 parts gold with 10 parts of an alloy metal, you have less worry about the damage that can occur with purer gold.

Higher karat value items, such as 18 or 22 karats, may need more polishing than a 14-karat item to retain a high level of shine. These higher karat offerings can bend as well if they are put under too much pressure. To offer more piece of mind for an item like a ring, which encounters a good deal of wear and tear on a daily basis, 10 karat gold is often preferred.

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