These Jewelry Designers Say 10k Gold Is the Way Forward

By Karen Dybis | March 25, 2026

Jewelry designers focusing on 10k gold say the lower-karat metal isn’t a concession during an era of record-high gold prices—rather, they praise the budget-friendly alloy as durable, alluring, and essential for other reasons.

Marla Aaron, who just debuted her first 10k piece, the Micro Babylock, tells JCK, “The primary reason for using 10k was its hardness. I’ve long been fascinated by Victorian-era mechanical jewelry—not just because it’s beautiful, but because it was driven by both curiosity and functionality.

“It was a period of tremendous creativity, often involving gold alloys in the 9 to 15k range because of their strength and adaptability—that’s why we chose 10k,” says Aaron.

“That said, in a moment like this, when material costs are what they are, every decision matters more. You have to be smart, intentional, and creative in ways that don’t compromise the integrity of the object,” she adds.

MA micro babylock open — *Made of a rosy 10k gold, Marla Aaron’s Micro Babylock ($595) was inspired by pieces in her personal Victorian-era jewelry collection.*

“10k has gone from overlooked to essential, and we’ve been all in from the start,” said a LinkedIn post last week by Ana Luisa, one of the jewelry brands featured in a March 18 Vogue Business article exploring how designers are maintaining quality and accessibility in their demi-fine jewelry as gold prices soar.

“Despite unprecedented volatility in gold prices, we’ve stayed committed to our standards, and the decision has paid off as our fine jewelry assortment has tripled in sales over the last 18 months,” wrote Ana Luisa, which started using 10k gold in 2023, according to its LinkedIn post.

Speaking at a business conference earlier this month, Signet CEO J.K. Symancyk noted that high gold prices have led his company to explore “alternative metals, plated, bonded, vermeil, different gold, purity weights.” Does that mean more 10k gold is coming to a Kay or Jared near you? Only time will tell.

As for Aaron, her Micro Babylock’s rose-hued 10k gold was developed exclusively for the brand. This new piece is the smallest version of Aaron’s signature locks, and she says she’s working on a 20k edition, to come soon. The company has offered Babylocks in a variety of alternative materials over the years, including rubber and, most recently, porcelain.

In the Micro Babylock’s marketing, Aaron notes that 10k gold “reflects a deliberate return to material intelligence.” Basically, that means using the right metal for the right jewelry piece. She calls it operating across the full spectrum of gold’s potential.

micro babylock Marla Aaron — *Marla Aaron styles the new Micro Babylock in a variety of ways, including on a hand chain.*

The Micro Babylock was in development long before gold reached record highs, Aaron points out. After peaking at $5,594.82 on Jan. 29, gold prices have declined since the start of Iran war, trading around $4,550 per ounce on Wednesday.

Sales of the Micro Babylock are already moving rapidly, Aaron says, and her team that helped create the piece feels gratified. “We hoped people would love it as much as we did, and it turns out they do.

“The Micro Babylock comes out of years of hard-earned expertise across our team, along with a firm refusal to compromise on function,” says Aaron. “It’s peak functional maximalism in micro form—a small object doing a surprising amount of work.”

Top: The Micro Babylock, worn here as a necklace pendant and a ring, is Marla Aaron’s first piece in 10k gold. (Photos courtesy of Marla Aaron)