Updated 2 October 2026
14K gold is 58.5% pure gold and is hallmarked 585. 18K gold is 75% pure and hallmarked 750. The extra alloy makes 14K the harder of the two, so it suits pieces worn every day. 18K holds more gold, shows a richer yellow and costs more. Every Nivara piece is made in both, with the same diamonds.
What 14K and 18K mean
Karat measures how much of the metal is pure gold, counted in 24 parts. 24K is pure gold. 18K is 18 parts gold in 24, or 75%. 14K is 14 parts in 24, which works out to 58.3%; the Indian hallmarking standard sets 14K at a fineness of 585, meaning 585 parts of pure gold in every thousand, or 58.5%. The rest is an alloy of other metals, which gives the gold its strength and decides its shade of yellow, rose or white. For the higher karats, see our guide to 18K, 22K and 24K gold.
14K vs 18K gold at a glance
| 14K gold | 18K gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Pure gold | 58.5% | 75% |
| BIS purity mark | 14K with fineness 585 | 18K with fineness 750 |
| Strength | Harder, made for daily wear | Softer than 14K |
| Yellow gold colour | A lighter yellow | A richer, deeper yellow |
| Price | Lower | Higher, by more on designs with more gold |
| Diamonds at Nivara | VVS clarity, E colour, ideal cut, IGI certified | The same |
Which is stronger for everyday wear?
14K. Pure gold is soft, and the metals alloyed with it add hardness, so the lower the karat, the more durable the piece. With 41.5% alloy against 25%, 14K is the natural choice for a ring worn every day, or a bracelet that meets a desk and a laptop all week. 18K is the softer of the two, so on pieces that take daily knocks it shows wear a little sooner. Higher karats are softer again; our guide to 22K vs 18K gold compares the two.
Does 18K gold look different?
In yellow gold, yes. The purer the gold, the more yellow the colour, so 18K shows a richer, deeper yellow and 14K a lighter one. If you love the deep yellow of 22K gold, 18K comes closer to it than 14K.
How much more does 18K cost?
The diamonds are identical in both versions, so the difference is the gold: 18K carries more pure gold, and in each of these pieces the 18K version also carries a little more gold by weight. The gap therefore depends on how much gold a design holds. Prices at the time of writing, which move with the gold rate:
| Piece | Diamonds, total | 14K, from around | 18K, from around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amora solitaire ring | 0.50 ct | ₹49,000 | ₹55,000 |
| Mirage bezel studs | 0.40 ct | ₹32,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Amora bezel pendant | 0.80 ct | ₹70,000 | ₹75,000 |
| Sol cluster bangle | 0.85 ct | ₹83,000 | ₹96,000 |
| Sutra tennis bracelet | 2.00 ct | ₹1,55,500 | ₹1,75,500 |
On the studs, 18K adds about ₹3,000. On the tennis bracelet, which holds far more gold, it adds about ₹20,000.
Is 14K gold hallmarked in India?
Yes. The Bureau of Indian Standards hallmarks gold jewellery in set grades, and 14K and 18K are both among them, alongside 22K. A BIS hallmark has three parts: the BIS logo, the purity in karat and fineness, such as 14K and 585, and a six digit alphanumeric HUID that is unique to that piece. You can check the HUID yourself with the Verify HUID feature in the BIS Care app. Every Nivara piece is BIS hallmarked. Our guide to verifying gold purity walks through each mark.
Which should you choose?
Choose 14K for pieces that work hard: the ring you never take off, a tennis bracelet, studs you sleep in. Choose 18K for a richer yellow and more gold in the piece, for jewellery that marks an occasion or is worn with a little care. Either way the diamonds are the same, the piece is BIS hallmarked, and the lifetime exchange values its gold at the current rate, so an 18K piece simply carries more gold to value.
Pieces made in 14K and 18K
Every piece below is made in both. The price shown is for 14K and moves with the gold rate; choose 18K on the product page.
Amora solitaire ring, from around ₹49,000. A single 0.50 carat round diamond in four prongs on a yellow gold band.
Mirage bezel studs, from around ₹32,000. Two round diamonds, each wrapped in a yellow gold bezel, 0.40 carat for the pair.
Amora bezel pendant, from around ₹70,000. A single 0.80 carat round diamond in a yellow gold bezel on a gold chain.
Sol cluster bangle, from around ₹83,000. A slim gold bangle with a round cluster of diamonds at its centre, 0.85 carat in all.
Sutra tennis bracelet, from around ₹1,55,500. A single line of round diamonds set in yellow gold, 2 carats in all.
See solitaire pendants, bangles and tennis bracelets.
What comes with every piece
- One diamond standard, whatever the budget: VVS clarity, E colour, ideal cut.
- IGI certification, and on solitaires the report number laser inscribed on the stone, so the paper and the diamond are one.
- 14k or 18k BIS hallmarked gold.
- A lifetime exchange at 100% of the current gold and diamond value, and a lifetime buyback at 100% gold and 85% diamond value.
- Lifetime polishing, cleaning and prong tightening, for as long as the piece is worn.
Compare them in your hand
The colour difference between 14K and 18K is easiest to judge against your own skin. Book a private viewing at our showrooms in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Indore or Ahmedabad. Anywhere else in India or abroad, book a video consultation; we ship to 28 countries.
Frequently asked questions
Is 14K or 18K gold better for diamond jewellery?
Neither is better in every case. 14K is harder, so it suits pieces worn every day, such as rings and bracelets. 18K holds more pure gold and shows a richer yellow. At Nivara every piece is made in both, BIS hallmarked, with the same diamonds either way.
Is 14K gold real gold?
Yes. 14K gold is 58.5% pure gold, alloyed with other metals for strength. It is one of the grades the Bureau of Indian Standards hallmarks, so a hallmarked 14K piece carries the BIS logo, the purity 14K with its fineness 585, and its own HUID.
What does 750 mean on gold?
750 is the fineness of 18K gold: 750 parts of pure gold in every 1,000, or 75%. In the same way, 585 marks 14K gold, which is 58.5% pure. In India both numbers appear in the BIS hallmark next to the karat.
Why does 18K gold cost more than 14K?
18K contains more pure gold, 75% against 58.5%. In Nivara pieces the diamonds are identical in both versions, so the difference in price comes from the gold, and it grows with the amount of gold in the design.
Can I exchange a 14K piece for an 18K piece later?
Yes. Every Nivara piece carries a lifetime exchange at 100% of its current gold and diamond value, which can go towards a new piece in 18K. Within 15 days of purchase the full invoice value counts; after that, making charges and taxes are deducted.
