Precious Metal 14K-H04
Supply condition
JIS K14 · GB Au585
H04 = full hard
Choose for clasps, springs, pin stems and thin wire needing maximum stiffness.
Values for the H04 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 |
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 |
H04This page Full hard | Choose for clasps, springs, pin stems and thin wire needing maximum stiffness. | 620 | 720 | 3 | 18 HRC | 13 % IACS |
What is 14K-H04?
14K-H04 is 14K supplied in the H04 condition — choose for clasps, springs, pin stems and thin wire needing maximum stiffness. 14K-H04 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — stronger than 98% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 81 GPa (11.7 Msi). 14K-H04 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; H04 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 75/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 98% of precious metal grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 95% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 25/100, worse than 95% of precious metal grades
14K-H04 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 14K-H04; 21 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-H04 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-H04 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — stronger than 98% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 81 GPa (11.7 Msi).
Thermal6
14K-H04 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 69 W/m·K (39.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 65% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 14.5 µm/m·K (8.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
14K-H04 conducts electricity at 13 % IACS, worse than 72% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (84/100), better than 57% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 14K-H04 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-H04's machinability is very good (75/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 14K-H04
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-H04 — frequently asked
What is 14K-H04 used for?
14K-H04 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-H04?
14K-H04 has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 720 MPa (104 ksi) — stronger than 98% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 14K-H04 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-H04 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). 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-H04?
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-H04 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-H04?
14K-H04 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °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.