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5k gold is a low-karat gold alloy that contains 20.85% pure gold, with the remaining 79.15% being other metals like silver, copper, and zinc. This minimal gold content makes it unappealing to investors and jewelry enthusiasts.
The gold alloy isn’t magnetic when mixed with non-magnetic metals, but becomes magnetic with ferromagnetic metals like iron or nickel.
Due to its high percentage of other metals, 5k gold isn’t hypoallergenic and commonly causes skin allergies.
It’s not used for making investment bullion due to low gold content, and jewelry made from 5k gold is extremely rare. No official hallmarks exist for this non-standard gold alloy.
- What is 5k Gold (Definition and Meaning)?
- Is 5k Gold Magnetic?
- Is 5k Gold Hypoallergenic or Allergenic?
- Does 5k Gold Tarnish?
- Is There Bullion (Coins and Bars) Made From 5k Gold?
- Is There Jewelry Made From 5k Gold?
- Is There Cutlery and Tableware Made From 5k Gold?
- What is the Hallmark for 5k Gold? Does it Exist?
- How Much is 5k Gold Worth?
Take this quiz and learn about 5k gold here. Read my guide first for your best results.
Table of Contents
What is 5k Gold (Definition and Meaning)?
5k gold is a gold alloy that contains 20.85% pure gold, and 79.15% other metals like silver, copper, and zinc.
5k gold is a low-karat gold alloy. Low amount of pure gold content and high amount of other metals make this gold alloy unappealing to investors and jewelry connoisseurs, and problematic from metal allergies standpoint.
However, people shopping gold jewelry on the budget love 5k gold as it closely resembles luxury jewelry made out of higher karatage gold alloys.
Note: 5k gold is a non-standardized gold alloy.
This means percentages of metals in the alloy vary, but always stay in the range of above 20% gold and below 6k gold (25% pure gold content).
Is 5k Gold Magnetic?
No, 5k gold isn’t magnetic. Instead, it’s diamagnetic when yellow gold is alloyed with other non-magnetic or paramagnetic metals like silver, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, platinum and rhodium.
5k gold becomes magnetic when gold is mixed with ferro-magnetic metals like iron, nickel, cobalt and some stainless steel forms.
5k gold alloy contains 20.85% pure gold and 79.15% other metals. When these other metals are magnetic or ferromagnetic, they make the whole 5k gold object magnetizable because the amount of diamagnetic yellow gold is too low.
Note: testing gold with magnets to see whether it’s fake is an easy home gold testing method. But you’ll need to know what these other metals in the 5k gold alloy are for conclusive results.
Is 5k Gold Hypoallergenic or Allergenic?
No, 5k gold isn’t hypoallergenic, it’s allergenic.
5k gold commonly causes skin allergies in sensitive people because this gold alloy contains too little pure gold and too much other trigger metals.
Two obvious examples are copper (moderately allergenic) and nickel (highly allergenic), but even silver causes dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Bottom line is that 5k gold isn’t safe for people with known metal allergies, despite pure gold being hypoallergenic.
Does 5k Gold Tarnish?
Yes, 5k gold tarnishes.
It’s a low-karat gold alloy with a high percentage of other metals, some of which very susceptible to tarnishing (for example copper, zinc and nickel).
Pure (24k) gold doesn’t tarnish at all which means that higher purity gold alloys (22k, 20k, 18k) tarnish very slowly compared to lower purity gold alloys like 5k gold.
Your 5k gold will tarnish even with excellent care, as regularly wearing your jewelry will lead to a gradual loss of shine over time.
Note: gold tarnish is easy to remove at home. Simply clean your 5k gold jewelry with a soft cloth and a mild, neutral detergent to remove buildup.
Is There Bullion (Coins and Bars) Made From 5k Gold?
No, there’s no bullion made from 5k gold. 5k gold has never been used to produce investment grade bullion (coins and bars) because the amount of pure gold in this alloy is too low (only 20.85%).
Are you interested in investment-grade gold coins and bars?
24k gold is used to create gold-investment bullion and these are the gold IRA-approved coins and bars you can include in your gold IRA account.
For example, check out how many pure gold coins and bars Augusta Precious Metals offers (note: Augusta Precious Metals is the best gold IRA company in the United States. They waive all fees for 10 years for all new customers).
And they’ll give you the correct information which will protect you from gold IRA scams.
Is There Jewelry Made From 5k Gold?
Yes, there’s jewelry made from 5k, though it’s extremely rare compared to jewelry made from higher karat gold, especially 14k and 18k gold.
5k gold jewelry is rare because this gold alloy is non-standardized and because other gold alloy are much more popular for jewelry design.
Here’s an example of 5k gold jewelry sold online. One of the rare piece I could find online.
Is There Cutlery and Tableware Made From 5k Gold?
No, there’s no cutlery and tableware made from 5k gold.
Cutlery and tableware aren’t made from solid 5k gold because pure or low-karat gold is too soft for everyday use.
Instead, gold-colored flatware is made from more durable metals like stainless steel, which is then covered with a decorative and protective gold plating or PVD coating, often 24-karat.
What is the Hallmark for 5k Gold? Does it Exist?
No, hallmark for 5k gold doesn’t exist. Because 5k gold is a non-standard, low-purity gold alloy that isn’t required to be hallmarked.
Traditional systems and gold purity regulations are designed to certify higher levels of gold purity, and 5k gold alloy has too little gold in it.
How Much is 5k Gold Worth?
The worth of 5k gold depends on the current gold market price which fluctuates from moment to moment based on supply and demand interplay.
To determine the worth of a 5k gold item first you need to measure the weight of the item in question.
Next, multiply the item’s weight in grams with the current gold price per gram, and then multiply that by 0.2085 (the amount of gold in 5k gold).
For example, let’s say the current price of gold is $90 per gram, and you have a 5k gold item that weighs exactly 10 grams.
The exact worth of that 5k gold item would be $90 x 10 x 0.2085=$187.65
What is 5k Gold? Is it Real? Conclusion
5k gold is a low-karat gold alloy containing only 20.85% pure gold, with the remaining 79.15% being other metals like silver, copper, nickel and zinc. This minimal gold content makes it unappealing to investors and jewelry enthusiasts.
5k gold isn’t magnetic when mixed with non-magnetic metals, but becomes magnetic with ferromagnetic metals like iron or nickel.
5k gold isn’t hypoallergenic and it commonly causes skin allergies because it contains several known metal allergens within its alloy.
This gold alloy isn’t used for making investment bullion due to low gold content, and jewelry made from 5k gold is extremely rare.
No official hallmarks exist for this non-standard gold alloy.
References:
- 5K Yellow Gold and Tiny Diamond Thin Braid Stacking Bracelet-Ready to ship- https://www.jennifertullwestbergjewelry.com/listing/253971387/5k-yellow-gold-and-tiny-diamond-thin
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
