14K and 18K gold are your best bet - they strike just the right balance between affordability, durability, and that glimmering golden shine. Of course there's always pure 24-karat gold as an option, but it is a little softer than lower-karat options so might not withstand wear and tear quite like its counterparts can. At Nina's, we use 9 and 18-karat gold in our jewellery to ensure quality and durability.

Most jewellery manufacturers place small markings on each piece to indicate its karat rating. These stamps may look different depending on where it was crafted, but they'll always tell you how many karats your precious gold holds. If you cannot find this, take the piece to a jeweller to be certain.