Not all gold is created equal.
Some gold is functional. Durable. Made to disappear into daily wear without asking too much of you or offering much in return.
But some gold? Some gold feels like a decision.
At SELVÉ, we almost always work in 18k gold — not because it’s traditional, but because it feels like us. And maybe, it feels like you too.
18k Is Gold at Its Most Human
Pure 24k gold is too soft to wear daily.
10k and 14k? Too alloyed and thinner in tone, less rich on the skin.
But 18k?
18k gold is 75% pure. That means it carries the glow of real gold so it's warm, intentional, and unmistakably soft in energy while still strong enough to live in the real world. It wears beautifully over time, catching light without screaming for it. It doesn’t flake or fade. It settles in.
It’s like a truth you don’t have to prove.
Why Not 14k?
14k gold is 58.3% pure, and often used for its hardness and affordability.
We’ll only work with it by request but it’s not our default. Why?
Because the color is cooler, the feeling less supple. It lacks the quiet depth we want SELVÉ pieces to hold. When you compare a 14k ring to its 18k counterpart, side by side the difference isn’t just visual. It’s emotional.
So yes, we’ll use it.
But only when it makes sense for the wearer, not because it’s the cheaper or easier option.
Why Not White Gold?
We also avoid white gold unless specifically requested not because it’s not beautiful, but because it doesn’t stay honest.
White gold is naturally a soft gray-yellow. To make it look “white,” it’s plated in rhodium which is a bright, chrome-like finish. But over time, that plating wears off, revealing a tone that many weren’t expecting. It can yellow. It can dull. And it needs regular maintenance to stay bright.
For a brand built on clarity and permanence, that kind of upkeep doesn’t feel aligned.
We prefer metals that stay true to the way they were purchased and age with you
Why Not 24k Gold?
24k gold is pure, yes. But also extremely soft.
Too soft for prongs. Too soft for bezels. Too soft for a life actually lived in your jewelry.
Even in cultures where 24k is prized (like South Asia or the Middle East), it’s often worn in ceremonial or investment contexts. Not for everyday.
SELVÉ is about emotion, not fragility.
Which means 24k might be beautiful, but it’s not built for the kinds of stories we want our pieces to live through.
So Why 18k?
Because it has weight, but not heaviness.
Because it glows without begging for attention.
Because it lets the diamond and the woman wearing it stay centered.
18k is intention made visible.
That’s why we use it. Unless you need something else — and even then, we’ll ask why before we say yes.
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