subject: How to Choose Gold Jewelry [print this page] 24 K gold is 100% pure gold, whereas 18 K has eighteen parts gold and six parts of 1 or more extra metals, which makes it 75% pure gold. 14 K has fourteen parts gold and ten parts of 1 or more extra metals, which makes it 58.3% pure gold. 12 K has twelve parts gold and twelve parts of 1 or more extra metals, which makes it 50% pure gold. 10 K has ten parts gold and fourteen parts of 1 or more extra metals, which makes it 41.7% pure gold. Ten karat gold is also the lowest karat gold that are allowed to be called in the USA.