18K gold is 75% pure — the remaining 25% is alloy (typically copper, silver, or palladium) added for hardness, or for white gold pieces, alloys that shift the tone before rhodium plating. It trades today at approximately live EGP per gram, computed live from the 24K reference × 0.75.
Where 18K shows up in Egypt. 21K dominates traditional Egyptian jewelry, but 18K appears in three places: modern minimalist and diamond-set pieces (its hardness holds small stones and prongs better than softer 21K), imported European and Gulf-branded jewelry (many international brands manufacture exclusively in 18K), and white gold — nearly all white gold sold in Egypt is 18K rather than 21K because the whitening alloy performs better at the lower purity.
Resale economics. Selling 18K back to an Egyptian jeweler pays out only the pure-gold weight (piece weight × 75%) at the daily rate minus the dealer spread — so 25% of the piece's weight is not bought back, versus 12.5% lost on 21K and close to zero on 24K bullion. Diamond-set or branded 18K pieces also carry higher workmanship that isn't recovered either, so 18K jewelry is best bought for design and durability, not as a savings instrument.
Quick comparison. At today's live EGP/g, 18K delivers roughly 14% less pure gold per gram than 21K, and 25% less than 24K. To price a specific piece including workmanship, use this site's jewelry price calculator with 18K selected.
Yes, 18K is real gold at 75% purity; the remaining 25% is alloy for durability.
Not ideal. On resale only the pure-gold portion (75% of weight) is paid, so you lose 25% of the piece's weight on the first sale — 24K bars or the Egyptian Gold Pound are more efficient for pure savings.
The alloying metals used to whiten gold (palladium, nickel, or silver) work better at 18K's lower purity than at 21K's, which is why nearly all white gold jewelry sold in Egypt is 18K.
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