Precious Metal 14K-AGE (Age-hardened)
Precip hard
JIS K14 · GB Au585
Use where maximum hardness is needed in cast or complex parts that cannot be cold worked.
Values for the AGE condition
Other 14K tempers and conditions
14K is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at 14K.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANNDefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition for stamping, bending, forming and chain making. | 220 | 400 | 35 | 133 HB | 14 % IACS |
As cast | Condition of lost-wax cast jewellery before work hardening; coarser grain and slightly lower ductility. | 230 | 400 | 18 | 143 HB | 13.5 % IACS |
14K Yellow | Default colour family — best all-round castability, solderability and price. | 230 | 420 | 33 | 133 HB | 14 % IACS |
14K White, palladium-bearing | Nickel-free hypoallergenic white option; softer and more ductile than Ni-white but higher cost and melting point. | 250 | 450 | 32 | 150 HV | 7 % IACS |
14K Rose / Red | Copper-rich pink to red tone; hardest of the colour family but more prone to tarnish and fire-scale. | 250 | 440 | 28 | 160 HV | 15 % IACS |
14K White, nickel-bearing | Hard, springy white alloy for prong settings; requires rhodium plating and EN 1811 nickel-release compliance. | 320 | 560 | 28 | 185 HV | 6 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light stiffening for sheet parts that still need some bending. | 350 | 500 | 18 | 157 HB | 13.7 % IACS |
Half hard | Common for ring shanks, bezels and settings needing wear resistance with limited forming. | 470 | 600 | 10 | 176 HB | 13.4 % IACS |
AGEThis page Age-hardened | Use where maximum hardness is needed in cast or complex parts that cannot be cold worked. | 560 | 700 | 6 | 19 HRC | 15 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose for clasps, springs, pin stems and thin wire needing maximum stiffness. | 620 | 720 | 3 | 18 HRC | 13 % IACS |
What is 14K-AGE?
14K-AGE is 14K in the AGE condition — use where maximum hardness is needed in cast or complex parts that cannot be cold worked. 14K-AGE has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi). 14K-AGE has a density of 13.07 g/cm³ (0.472 lb/in³), heavier than 70% of precious metal grades. It melts at 802°C (1,476 °F). ANN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; AGE is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 75/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 560 MPa (81.2 ksi), better than 97% of precious metal grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 180°C (356 °F), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 93% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 35/100, worse than 92% of precious metal grades
14K-AGE properties
Typical room-temperature values for 14K-AGE; 20 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 14K reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
14K-AGE has a density of 13.07 g/cm³ (0.472 lb/in³), heavier than 70% of precious metal grades. It melts at 802°C (1,476 °F).
Mechanical14
14K-AGE has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
Thermal6
14K-AGE is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 80 W/m·K (46.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 54% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 14.5 µm/m·K (8.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
14K-AGE conducts electricity at 15 % IACS, worse than 65% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (83/100), better than 57% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 14K-AGE takes about 150,000 MJ of energy and emits 10,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 73% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
14K-AGE's machinability is very good (75/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades); weldability good (60/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 14K-AGE
Is 14K easy to machine?
Turns and mills cleanly with sharp carbide or HSS tooling and light oil; annealed stock is gummy so prefer 1/2-hard temper, high speed, small depth of cut, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 14K be welded?
Excellent for laser and PUK micro-welding with matched 14K filler; torch joining is normally done with graded 14K easy/medium/hard solders under borax-type flux.
Can 14K be formed, bent or molded?
Very ductile when annealed (>30 % elongation); rolls, draws, stamps and raises readily but work-hardens fast — interanneal at 600–650 °C with rapid quench every 50–60 % reduction, and cast at 60–100 °C above liquidus in flask at 550–650 °C.
What surface finishes work on 14K?
Takes a mirror polish easily; pickle in dilute sulphuric acid to remove copper fire-scale, and rhodium plate white grades for a neutral white tone.
14K chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Au585 hallmark minimum; US legal 14K tolerance permits 58.3 for unsoldered items | 58.5 – 59.5 | 58.5 |
| Agraises paleness/greenness; higher in green and pale-yellow tints | 0 – 32 | 9 |
| Zndeoxidiser and colour whitener in yellow/white grades | 0 – 6 | 4.5 |
| Nionly in nickel-white grades; must meet EN 1811 release limits | 0 – 13 | 0 |
| Pdonly in palladium-white grades | 0 – 14 | 0 |
| Ir/Ru/Co (grain refiner)trace grain-refining additions in casting grades | 0 – 0.1 | 0.01 |
| Sitrace deoxidiser in some casting alloys | 0 – 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Cuprincipal balance in yellow and rose alloys; sets redness and hardness | ≥ 0 (balance) | — |
14K-AGE — frequently asked
What is 14K-AGE used for?
14K-AGE is typically used for everyday jewelry, rings, chains and watch cases. In short: durable everyday karat; lower cost than 18K; very ductile when annealed.
What is the yield strength of 14K-AGE?
14K-AGE has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 14K-AGE easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades). Turns and mills cleanly with sharp carbide or HSS tooling and light oil; annealed stock is gummy so prefer 1/2-hard temper, high speed, small depth of cut, and collect all swarf for refining.
Can 14K-AGE be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Excellent for laser and PUK micro-welding with matched 14K filler; torch joining is normally done with graded 14K easy/medium/hard solders under borax-type flux.
What surface finishes work on 14K-AGE?
Takes a mirror polish easily; pickle in dilute sulphuric acid to remove copper fire-scale, and rhodium plate white grades for a neutral white tone.
Can 14K-AGE be formed, bent or molded?
Very ductile when annealed (>30 % elongation); rolls, draws, stamps and raises readily but work-hardens fast — interanneal at 600–650 °C with rapid quench every 50–60 % reduction, and cast at 60–100 °C above liquidus in flask at 550–650 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 14K-AGE?
14K-AGE is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 14K-ANN and 14K-H04?
ANN is the default condition — standard stocked condition for stamping, bending, forming and chain making. H04: choose for clasps, springs, pin stems and thin wire needing maximum stiffness. Yield strength is 220 MPa in ANN versus 620 MPa in H04.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (precious metals) — ASM International (1990)
- ISO 9202 — Jewellery: Fineness of precious metal alloys — ISO (2019)
- EN 1811 — Reference test method for release of nickel — CEN (2015)
- 14K karat alloy and solder technical data (yellow / white / rose) — Hoover & Strong / Legor / Progold (2023)
- Gold Bulletin / World Gold Council jewellery technology data on carat gold alloys — World Gold Council (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.