14K, 18K or sterling silver for a piece meant to be handed down

If a piece is meant to be worn every day and handed down, the metal matters. This guide compares 14K gold, 18K gold and sterling silver: what each one is, how they differ in color, weight and care, what they cost, and how long each takes. The figures come from the real specifications and prices of Kavacha Designs | Sacred Armor™ pieces, so you can compare the same design in each metal.

What the numbers mean

Pure gold is 24 karat. The karat number tells you how many parts in 24 are gold; the rest is other metals. Pure gold is soft, so it is mixed with other metals to make it harder and more durable.

• 14K gold is 14 parts in 24 gold, about 58.3%. It is often marked 585.
• 18K gold is 18 parts in 24 gold, 75%. It is often marked 750.
• Sterling silver is 92.5% silver, usually with copper. It is marked 925.

These are the definitions in the US Federal Trade Commission's jewelry guides. The three-digit marks are parts per thousand, the way hallmarking offices express fineness. US guidelines call for gold jewelry to be described by its karat, so you will always see 14K or 18K named on a Kavacha, never just "gold".

How the three compare

• Color. Both golds are yellow gold. The purer the gold, the more yellow the color, so 18K is a little deeper and warmer than 14K. Sterling silver is a cool white metal, and it changes with time (see care, below).
• Weight. The same design weighs more in gold than in silver, and a little more in 18K than in 14K. The Taweez pendant, for example, weighs about 9.2 g in sterling silver, 12.6 g in 14K and 14.3 g in 18K.
• Wear. The lower the karat, the more durable the metal, as the Gemological Institute of America puts it. 14K takes daily knocks a little better than 18K; 18K is softer and shows wear sooner.
• Chains. Chains differ by metal. Sterling silver pieces in stock often come on a heavier chain than the made-to-order gold, so with its chain a silver piece can weigh as much as, or more than, the gold one. Narashimha with chain and clasp is about 36.85 g in sterling silver on a 4 mm diamond-cut cable chain, and about 32.36 g in 14K on a 2.3 mm diamond-cut cable chain.

The same design in each metal

Pendant weights below are for the pendant alone, from the factory specifications on each product page. Each product page shows the current price.

• Taweez: 9.2 g in sterling silver, 12.6 g in 14K, 14.3 g in 18K.
• Narashimha: 15.2 g in sterling silver, 20.9 g in 14K, 23.7 g in 18K.
• Kerala Small: 7.2 g in sterling silver, 9.9 g in 14K, 11.2 g in 18K.
• Capsule Small: 3.8 g in sterling silver, 5.2 g in 14K, 5.9 g in 18K.
• Pankaj: 18.8 g in sterling silver, 25.8 g in 14K, 29.3 g in 18K.

As of 3 October 2026, sterling silver necklaces run from $210 (Vámana) to $770 (Kerala Pave), 14K from $3,640 to $12,380, and 18K from $5,180 to $17,890. Stones can differ between the silver and gold editions of a design, so check each product page.

Made to order or ready to ship

• Sterling silver pieces are ready to ship within 2 business days. You have 30 days after receiving a sterling silver piece to request a return, if it is unused and in its original packaging.
• 14K and 18K gold pieces are made to order for you and take 4 to 6 weeks to make. Because each one is made for you, a gold order can't be cancelled once it is placed, and gold pieces can't be returned.

On the gold editions, every metal part, chain and clasp included, is 14K or 18K yellow gold; the chamber inside is hollow by design. Each necklace carries the Kavacha hallmark and a branded K tag. The full terms are on our return policy.

For a memorial piece. The 14K and 18K yellow gold editions are cast from the same designs as the sterling silver, so the chamber as designed is the same. Chamber sizes lists the inside and the opening of every design. Stones can change with the metal: the Hirz, the Kerala Vertical and the Agraja are set with cubic zirconia in sterling silver and with lab-grown diamonds in 14K or 18K yellow gold, and the Afghani Tribal Emerald in 14K or 18K yellow gold is set with emeralds and green cubic zirconia. If you need it sooner, the sterling silver edition of the same design ships within 2 business days. Please contact us before you fill a Kavacha with ashes.

How each metal ages, and how to care for it

Sterling silver naturally develops a patina and may tarnish over time. This is normal. Many Kavachas are finished with darkened details in the recesses of the design; this is intentional and part of the piece. To restore the shine, wipe the raised surfaces with a soft silver polishing cloth. Please don't use silver dips or polishing pastes, which remove the darkened finish. Tarnish is a thin film of silver sulfide that forms when silver meets sulfur in the air; on sterling silver it also contains copper sulfide. It sits on the surface, and a polishing cloth lifts it.

14K and 18K gold collect natural oils, lotions and residue from everyday wear. Clean the outside with a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water and a little mild dish soap, rinse with clean water, dry thoroughly, and use a soft jewelry polishing cloth to restore the luster.

For every metal, take your Kavacha off before swimming, bathing, hot tubs or saunas, and put on perfume, lotion and sunscreen before it, not after. Water resistance has not been tested, so please don't treat it as watertight. More on Caring for Your Kavacha.

Which to choose

• Choose sterling silver if you want the piece soon, you love the look of an antique finish that deepens with wear, or you want the lowest price for the design you love.
• Choose 14K gold for a gold piece that takes daily wear a little better.
• Choose 18K gold for the deepest yellow and the most gold in the metal.

Whatever the metal, every Kavacha is poured and cast from its own single 3D print, not bent from sheet metal, then finished and hallmarked, and every one opens to a chamber. See what people keep inside in What you can keep inside an openable necklace, and how much each design holds in Keeping a loved one's ashes close. Browse sterling silver or 14K and 18K gold, and if you are unsure, write to us on our contact page.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between 14K and 18K gold?

18K gold is 75% gold and 14K is about 58.3%. 18K is a deeper yellow and a little heavier for the same design. At Kavacha, both are yellow gold, made to order in 4 to 6 weeks.

Is the gold real gold all the way through?

Yes. On the gold editions every metal part, chain and clasp included, is 14K or 18K yellow gold. The chamber inside is hollow by design, because it is made to hold something.

Will sterling silver tarnish?

It can. Silver naturally develops a patina over time; the darkened details in the recesses are intentional. A soft silver polishing cloth brings back the shine on the raised surfaces. Don't use silver dips, which remove the darkened finish in the recesses.

How long does a gold piece take?

4 to 6 weeks, because each gold piece is made to order. Sterling silver ships within 2 business days.

Can I return a gold piece?

No. Gold pieces are made to order for you, so they can't be cancelled or returned. Sterling silver can be returned within 30 days if unused.

Sources

• US Federal Trade Commission, Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (16 CFR Part 23), and "All That Glitters: How to Buy Jewelry".
• Gemological Institute of America, "White, yellow and rose gold" and "Yellow gold vs rose gold".
• The Assay Office London, "What is a hallmark?"
• Canadian Conservation Institute, "Understanding silver tarnish".