Tarnishing of 10k gold is usually reversible; in other words, it may be polished away. 10k gold contains many alloys, thus, its propensity to tarnish. It is difficult to guess the length of time it takes for tarnish to accumulate.
Everyday Wear
10K gold is made so that it's durable enough for daily activities without losing its charm. Like any other gold jewelry, remove it before engaging in activities where there is a risk of damage, such as household chores, yard work, or other physical labor.
As we mentioned above, both 10k and 14k solid gold are fully tarnish-resistant, waterproof, and can be refinished and polished forever—but 10k solid gold goes one step further on durability.
Solid Gold (10k, 14k)
Solid gold is a great choice if you're looking for a lifetime piece you can wear everyday and everywhere - yes, even in the shower! Polish with a soft cloth.
Gold jewelry should be gently cleaned weekly to keep it looking shiny and new. All you need to clean most gold jewelry is warm water, dish soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
The cons of 10k gold
And while 10k gold is massively affordable to a wide market, it is the lowest grade of gold accepted in the U.S market and is considered the least pure. You will not find gold jewelry less than 10k. Unlike 14k gold, 10k gold is quite dull in color appearance because of its low percentage of gold.
Advantages: The primary advantage of 10k gold is its durability. Since it's more alloy than gold, it stands up well to wear and tear. It's also the least expensive option out of all the most frequently used gold alloys. Disadvantages: Some people might be allergic to the alloy used with this gold.
"Sweat and friction can cause gold to leach out of jewelry," notes Dr. Dao.
10K gold is the least pure, least expensive, yet most durable, form of gold used widely in jewelry today. With its 41.7% gold purity, it's the most impure gold available on the market that can still legally be called “gold” in the US and most other countries.
10K, 14K, 18K and even 22K Solid Gold is not a concern when it comes to getting your necklace wet. Whether it is a gold link chain such as gold curb chain or a gold rope chain or something else, as long as it is pure solid gold, you can swim with your gold.
10k gold is the cheapest form of gold that's still commonly used in jewelry. If you're looking for the least expensive option, this is your best bet.
For the U.S. system, 24K is 99.9% pure gold, 18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.5% gold and 10K is 41.7% gold. Anything less than 10K is considered fake.
10k, 14k, and 18k Breakdown
Because pure gold is naturally yellow in color, the higher the karat, the more yellow the metal will appear.
To keep its shine, you should clean your jewelry regularly with a solution of 10-parts warm water and 2-parts dish soap. A few extra tips: Soaking is the key: per Real Simple, you should soak your gold jewelry pieces for 3 hours and then scrub them gently with a very soft brush.
Because it has a lower gold content it's stronger, and less likely to scratch, scuff or bend. A second advantage is the price - it's less expensive than 14k because it has less gold. However, one thing to note with 10k is that the color can be less vibrant yellow than 14k gold.
The water will not damage the gold, but it can cause the gold to become dull and tarnished over time. Therefore, removing your 10k gold jewelry before showering or swimming is best.
Gold and Platinum are Not Magnetic
It is often advised that you leave your fine gold and platinum jewelry on your person as it is unlikely to cause the security system to react.
14 Karat Gold: It is made up of 58.3% gold and 41.7% of other metals. Compared to 18k gold, 14K is more durable as well as affordable. The 14K gold jewellery is ideal for everyday use and offers more resistance to wear and tear than 18 and 22K gold.
Chlorine is Public Enemy #1 for Gold:
Chlorine is not a problem for 24k pure gold, but it has very damaging effects upon some of the other precious metals that are used to alloy gold to the various gold karat values commonly used to make engagement rings, such as 10k, 14k, and 18k gold.
10K gold contains 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy, which means it contains more alloy than gold and therefore is a less expensive option. Pure gold is a soft metal that tends to bend and scratch very easily, so since 10K gold has the most alloy in it, it's more durable (less soft) than 14K gold.
Affordability: 10k is the most affordable gold you can pick for an engagement ring. Durability: Since 10k gold is more alloy than gold, it's stronger and more durable than “purer” golds. This leads to less scratching and damage, and 10k gold prongs tend to be stronger and less prone to bending or breaking.
The price of 10k gold varies because there are many local pawn shops that deal on 10k gold. some pawn shops pay around $1250 for an ounce of pure gold. You can get $16.35 per gram for 10k gold jewelry, and 423.50 per gram for 14k gold jewelry.