Precious Metal Gold 14K Cold Worked
Supply condition
Default hard condition for drawn wire, pins, clasps and pen nibs where strength and springiness matter.
Values for the Cold Worked condition
Other Gold 14K tempers and conditions
Gold 14K is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at Gold 14K.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Standard stocked condition for sheet, wire and tube that must be bent, drawn, raised or set with stones. | 200 | 400 | 38 | 130 HB | 15.5 % IACS |
As fabricated | Choose for cast jewellery bodies and settings straight from investment casting, before any work hardening. | 210 | 350 | 20 | 133 HB | 15 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Use when sheet or wire needs a little more stiffness but must still take moderate bending or riveting. | 380 | 520 | 15 | 157 HB | 15.2 % IACS |
Half hard | Common for ring shanks, bracelet links and eyeglass parts needing wear resistance with some residual ductility. | 480 | 620 | 8 | 176 HB | 14.9 % IACS |
Cold WorkedThis page hard drawn / rolled (~50 % reduction) | Default hard condition for drawn wire, pins, clasps and pen nibs where strength and springiness matter. | 550 | 700 | 4 | 190 HB | 14.5 % IACS |
Age hardened | Use for cast or finished parts that must be hardened after shaping — Au-Cu ordering raises hardness without cold work. | 620 | 780 | 8 | 19 HRC | 17 % IACS |
Hardened | Pick for springs, clips, catch tongues and thin wire where maximum elastic strength is required and no forming follows. | 700 | 800 | 2 | 20 HRC | 14.3 % IACS |
What is Gold 14K Cold Worked?
Gold 14K Cold Worked is Gold 14K supplied in the Cold Worked condition — default hard condition for drawn wire, pins, clasps and pen nibs where strength and springiness matter. Gold 14K Cold Worked has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 80 GPa (11.6 Msi). Gold 14K Cold Worked 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). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Cold Worked is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades
- High strength — 550 MPa (79.8 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 — 170°C (338 °F), worse than 100% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 4%, worse than 93% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 35/100, worse than 92% of precious metal grades
- High embodied carbon — 12,000 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 76% of precious metal grades
Gold 14K Cold Worked properties
Typical room-temperature values for Gold 14K Cold Worked; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Gold 14K reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
Gold 14K Cold Worked 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).
Mechanical11
Gold 14K Cold Worked has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 80 GPa (11.6 Msi).
Thermal6
Gold 14K Cold Worked is rated for continuous service to 170°C (338 °F). It conducts heat at 124 W/m·K (71.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 63% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 15.5 µm/m·K (8.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Gold 14K Cold Worked conducts electricity at 14.5 % IACS, worse than 68% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (76/100), worse than 59% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Gold 14K Cold Worked takes about 145,000 MJ of energy and emits 12,000 kg of CO₂ — more than 72% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
Gold 14K Cold Worked's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades); weldability good (65/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Gold 14K Cold Worked
Is Gold 14K easy to machine?
Turns and engraves well with sharp carbide/HSS and light oil; annealed stock is gummy, so prefer 1/2-hard or harder and collect all swarf as scrap.
Can Gold 14K be welded?
Laser and pulse-arc (PUK) welding are routine with matching 14K filler; torch work uses graded karat solders (easy/medium/hard) to allow sequential joins.
Can Gold 14K be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent for rolling, drawing, raising and stamping in the annealed state; anneal at ~650 °C with rapid quench every 40–50 % reduction to avoid Cu-Au ordering embrittlement.
What surface finishes work on Gold 14K?
Polishes to a mirror easily; commonly rhodium-plated (white shades), gold-plated for colour matching, or bright-dipped — avoid chlorine bleach and hot sulphur pickles.
Gold 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‰ minimum fineness per ISO 9202 / GB 11887; refiners aim ~58.7 % for marking margin | 58.5 – 59.5 | 58.5 |
| Aghigher Ag = greener/paler yellow | 4 – 30 | 9 |
| Zndeoxidiser, lowers melting range, brightens colour | 0 – 5 | 4 |
| Sitrace grain refiner/deoxidiser in casting grades | 0 – 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Ir/Ruoptional grain refiner in casting alloys | 0 – 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Cubalance; higher Cu = red/rose tone and greater age-hardening response | ≥ 8 (balance) |
Gold 14K Cold Worked — frequently asked
What is Gold 14K Cold Worked used for?
Gold 14K Cold Worked is typically used for jewelry, watch cases and earrings. In short: workhorse 14K jewelry gold.
What is the yield strength of Gold 14K Cold Worked?
Gold 14K Cold Worked has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) — stronger than 97% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Gold 14K Cold Worked easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 101% of precious metal grades). Turns and engraves well with sharp carbide/HSS and light oil; annealed stock is gummy, so prefer 1/2-hard or harder and collect all swarf as scrap.
Can Gold 14K Cold Worked be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (65/100). Laser and pulse-arc (PUK) welding are routine with matching 14K filler; torch work uses graded karat solders (easy/medium/hard) to allow sequential joins.
What surface finishes work on Gold 14K Cold Worked?
Polishes to a mirror easily; commonly rhodium-plated (white shades), gold-plated for colour matching, or bright-dipped — avoid chlorine bleach and hot sulphur pickles.
Can Gold 14K Cold Worked be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent for rolling, drawing, raising and stamping in the annealed state; anneal at ~650 °C with rapid quench every 40–50 % reduction to avoid Cu-Au ordering embrittlement.
What is the maximum service temperature of Gold 14K Cold Worked?
Gold 14K Cold Worked is rated for continuous use to about 170°C (338 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Gold 14K-O and Gold 14K-H?
O is the default condition — standard stocked condition for sheet, wire and tube that must be bent, drawn, raised or set with stones. H: pick for springs, clips, catch tongues and thin wire where maximum elastic strength is required and no forming follows. Yield strength is 200 MPa in O versus 700 MPa in H.
Sources
- ISO 9202 — Jewellery: fineness of precious metal alloys — ISO (2019)
- ASTM B562 — Refined Gold — ASTM (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Precious Metals section) — ASM International (1990)
- 14K yellow casting and mill-product alloy datasheets — Legor Group / Hoover & Strong (2023)
- Gold Bulletin / World Gold Council technical notes on karat 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.