Why 18 Karat Gold Is the Only Choice That Honors Your Story

When you look at it from the outside, you think, "14-karat gold, 18-karat gold, 24-karat gold... What does it matter? It's just the price that changes, right?" But let me tell you something: for us, the people who craft this jewelry, it's much more than just about money. It's the very philosophy of the piece.

At AZOR Jewelry, we've made the radical choice to work exclusively with 18-karat gold . And I'm telling you, it's not because we like complicated things. It's an absolute necessity if we want to look you in the eye and promise you that the jewelry you buy today won't let you down. It must keep its color, shape, and strength, not just next year, but so your grandchildren can wear it. That's our definition of a legacy .

So, why don't we use the purest gold, 24 carats ? It's true that it's magnificent, the color is incredible. But there's a big problem, and it's paradoxical: pure gold is too soft ! Imagine wearing it every day: it would scratch just by touching your keys, and the slightest pressure would deform it. For a piece of jewelry to stand up to real life—dishes, children, car doors—it has to be made strong. And for that, you have to mix it.

This is where we find our perfect balance: 18 carats .

The Perfect Equation: 75% Love, 25% Courage

The rule is simple when it comes to gold: the system has 24 parts. If your jewelry is 18 carats, that means that of those 24 parts, 18 are pure gold . For those who like percentages, that's 75% pure gold . That's much, much more than half.

The rest, the famous 25% , is what we call the alloy: a cocktail of metals like silver, copper, or sometimes a little zinc. And this mixture has two super important missions:

1. Make It Rock Solid: This is the alloy that gives the metal the hardness needed to make a reliable setting . Your stone needs to stay firmly in place and your ring won't sag after a few months.

2. Giving It Its Color: Yes, it's the alloy that decides whether the gold will be yellow, pink, or white, without ever affecting its purity. To achieve that warm, deep yellow we love, we often choose an alloy with silver and copper.

18-karat is the deepest and richest color. It's the yellow we all think of when we think of "gold." Look at it next to 14-karat (which is only 58.3% gold). You can immediately see the difference. 14K is often paler, with a slightly dull, almost greenish cast due to the overabundance of non-precious metals.

Buy Better: A Decision of Heart and Mind

Choosing your jewelry is a real decision. It's both an important purchase and a very personal act. 18-karat gold is the smartest choice, for both the heart and the wallet.

• Tarnish-Free: Because there's so much pure gold in it, 18K is much less susceptible to dirt and chemical reactions than 14K. The fewer alloying metals there are, the less likely it is to oxidize. And that's great for sensitive skin ! It's often considered hypoallergenic because there's very little or no nickel in it.

• Lasting Value: It's the very nature of gold: it retains its value. An 18-carat jewel is a real asset . It's not something you're going to throw away. It's a real gift that you give to yourself or others, and which is passed on with its full financial and emotional value.

In a world where we're pushed to buy everything all the time, choosing 18K means choosing quality above all else. It's the assurance that we'll buy less often, but that we'll buy something that's here to stay.

The Final Touch: Respected Craftsmanship

For us, artisan jewelers, working with 18-carat gold is a pleasure, but also a demanding level. It's the best compromise between its malleability, which allows us to engrave finely, and its strength, which ensures the safety of your stones.

It allows us to make delicate settings , engravings that last and polished finishes that have a unique depth, things not possible with less concentrated alloys.

At AZOR, we create pieces to be worn with pride every day, and passed down with all the love possible one day. 18-karat is more than just purity. It's the recognition that your story, your life, deserves a metal that lives up to its brilliance.