The Magic of 14K Gold
...because your piercing deserves the best.
Gold has been used in jewellery creation since ancient times, well known for its rarity, lustrous beauty and high resistance to tarnishing making it one of the safest materials to use in modern-day body jewellery. If you're as passionate about adorning your ears as we are, you'll already understand that solid gold is a precious investment, lasting for generations.
So why do we choose 14K in particular?
24K | Too soft, easily catches dirt in scratches which can cause infection |
18K | Still very soft and not recommended for leave-in jewellery such as piercings |
14K | A great balance of both high gold content and durability for daily wear |
9K | Less pure and contains a much higher alloy content which can cause allergic reactions |
Composition
14K is the most popular gold composition for many reasons. It is made up of 58.3% fine gold and 41.7% other metals, in our case the other metals are 30% silver, and 11.7% copper. Pure 24K gold is too soft to be used in everyday jewellery, so it is alloyed with other metals to make it stronger and more durable.
For our fine piercing collection, it was essential that we maintain the highest standard of quality whilst keeping the price point attainable, which aided the easy decision to use 14K.
As you can see in the diagram below, the higher the karat, the higher gold content. 9K has a lower pure gold content making it more 'not gold' than gold, whereas 14K is the perfect middle-ground for both quality and affordability with a high real gold content just under 60%.
Fine For Every Day
Good to know: 14K Solid Gold is the minimum grade recommended as safe for brand new piercings and we have ensured CHLUXE meets the requirements outlined by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP)
Durability
We value creating quality jewellery that lasts and our Solid Gold pieces are considered investments that will be part of your story for generations to come.We are very selective of the artisans we trust to handcraft our precious heirlooms, working together to ensure our gold is recycled, our gemstones are ethically sourced and guaranteeing responsible practices from start to finish.
Care
Whilst Gold will not tarnish in the same way as metals such as brass or copper, if you wear your earrings all the time, you may experience slightly darker patches on the part which sits through your piercing where it has been in constant contact with moist areas of skin. This is completely normal and can be easily removed using gold jewellery cleaner or our favourite DIY method using a household ingredient, baking soda.
• Mix three parts baking soda to one part water.
• Use a very soft toothbrush to work the mixture into all crevices.
• Let your jewellery soak into the mixture for 5 - 10 minutes.
• Rinse and dry your jewellery thoroughly with a soft lint-free cloth.