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Precious Metal Gold 14K vs Pt950

Precious Metal · grade comparison

Precious Metal Gold 14K and Pt950 are both precious metal grades, both jewelry precious metal. Gold 14K is the stronger of the two: yield strength 200 MPa (29 ksi) against 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) for Pt950, about 54% more; tensile strength follows at 400 MPa (58 ksi) vs 310 MPa (45 ksi). Gold 14K is harder — 130 HB against 105 HB for Pt950 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. Gold 14K is lighter (13.07 g/cm³ vs 20.1 g/cm³ for Pt950) and Pt950 is stiffer (172 GPa vs 79 GPa). On the shop floor, Gold 14K machines more easily (good vs poor) and Pt950 welds better (excellent vs very good).

Gold 14KChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.

Pt950Choose it when the part sees heat, or when it will be welded.

Gold 14K vs Pt950: properties

Gold 14KPt950

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

79 GPa11.5 Msi
172 GPa24.9 Msi

Shear Modulus

29 GPa4.2 Msi
62 GPa9 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.37
0.39

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

400 MPa58 ksi
310 MPa45 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

200 MPa29 ksi
130 MPa18.9 ksi

Elongation at Break

38%
35%

Reduction in Area

45%
—

Shear Strength

250 MPa36.3 ksi
210 MPa30.5 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

140 MPa20.3 ksi
160 MPa23.2 ksi

Hardness, Brinell

130 HB
105 HB

Hardness, Vickers

135 HV
110 HV

Bulk Modulus

—
235 GPa34.1 Msi

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

13.07 g/cm³0.47 lb/in³
20.1 g/cm³0.73 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

802°C1,476 °F
1,755°C3,191 °F

Liquidus Temperature

879°C1,614 °F
1,780°C3,236 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

130 W/m·K75.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F
40 W/m·K23.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

220 J/kg·K0.05 BTU/lb·°F
133 J/kg·K0.03 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

15.5 µm/m·K8.6 µin/in·°F
9 µm/m·K5 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

105 J/g45.1 BTU/lb
110 J/g47.3 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

350°C662 °F
1,200°C2,192 °F

Min Service Temperature

-200°C-328 °F
-250°C-418 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

15.5 % IACS
7.2 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

1.1×10⁻⁷ Ω·m4.33 µΩ·in
2.4×10⁻⁷ Ω·m9.45 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

0.2 V
0.3 V

Corrosion Resistance

80 / 100
100 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

60 / 100
30 / 100

Weldability

75 / 100
85 / 100

Castability

85 / 100
70 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

90 / 100
85 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

—
30%

Same in both: Formability (cold) 90 / 100 · Polishability 95 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

145,000 MJ/kg6.23×10⁷ BTU/lb
250,000 MJ/kg1.07×10⁸ BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

12,000 kg CO₂/kg
16,000 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

90,000 L/kg10,784 gal/lb
200,000 L/kg23,965 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

30%
35%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

31 kN·m/kg
15 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

6 MN·m/kg
8.6 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

253 kJ/m³
49 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

45.2 mm²/s
15 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

42
8

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every precious metal grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

50100200500101520Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleGold 14KPt950

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityGold 14KPt950
Default conditionOO
Relative cost$$$$$ Specialty$$$$$ Specialty
Min. machined wall——
Best machined surface——

Gold 14K vs Pt950 — frequently asked

Is Gold 14K stronger than Pt950?

Yes. Gold 14K has a typical yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) against 130 MPa (18.9 ksi) for Pt950 — about 54% more. Tensile strength is 400 MPa (58 ksi) vs 310 MPa (45 ksi).

Which is cheaper, Gold 14K or Pt950?

Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$$$$, specialty); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.

Which is easier to machine, Gold 14K or Pt950?

Gold 14K. Its machinability rates good (60/100) against poor (30/100) for Pt950; for welding the order is Pt950 first (excellent, 85/100) then Gold 14K (very good, 75/100).

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Gold 14K and Pt950 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.