What are Jewelry Karats? A Deep Dive

Metal the color of sunrise tells so many stories. Grand gestures of love by getting on one knee and popping the question. Royalty adorns themselves...

Metal the color of sunrise tells so many stories. Grand gestures of love by getting on one knee and popping the question. Royalty adorns themselves with gold to reflect their power. The rich and famous use gold to effortlessly flaunt their wealth. Every use for gold has its own karat values. 14-karat gold used in engagement rings is durable and encourages longevity just like a long and happy marriage. Royalty wears 24-karat gold for its unmistakable color and sheer luxuriousness. 18-karat gold is worn by celebrities for its balance between longevity and expensiveness.

ILIANA 18K Yellow Gold Princess Cut AAA Turkizite and G-H SI Diamond Ring 4.30 Grams 3.20 ctw

What is the difference between the karats of gold and carats of gemstones in this turkizite ring?

What We Will Cover

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about karat values. Mysteries such as the other metals that make-up gold jewelry and the difference between carat and karat will be solved. We will follow a path through various karat values and their pros and cons. Finally, our gold-shrouded scavenger hunt will end with notes on how to find the karat value and allergy information.

Terms to know

Let’s talk about some jewelry vocabulary.

Karat: Karat is a measurement of the fineness (purity) of gold jewelry. It is measured in 24 parts; with 1-karat being 1 part gold and 23 parts other metals. Whereas 24-karat is 24 parts gold and no parts other metals. Abbreviations for karat are kt, k, and K

Alloy: Alloy is a metal mixed with another metal. Gold alloys are metals mixed with gold to create gold jewelry. Alloys are the “other metals” that make up gold jewelry.

Carat: Not to be confused with karat, carat measures the weight of diamonds and colored gemstones like ruby, sapphire, or emerald. 0.2 grams are equal to 1 carat. The abbreviations for carat are ct and CT.

24-Karat Gold: What’s the Big Deal?

Other than mining it out of the ground, 24-karat is the purest gold possible. “Pure Gold” is a very alluring title, but it is important to understand the characteristics of 24-karat gold. Check out some pros and cons of 24-karat gold to decide if it is the best jewelry for you.

Pros

Cons

Pure gold sports a classic yellow orange color reminiscent of sunrise.

Due to its softness, this gold is not suitable for everyday wear.

Since there are no alloyed metals, 24-karat gold is hypoallergenic.

24-karat gold is highly susceptible to scratches.

The price makes this gold beneficial for long-term investments, especially with very little wear.

Being 100% gold, 24-karat gold is the most expensive gold out there. There are plenty of other attractive options that do not break the bank.

Karat Values: Decoding 10K, 14K, and 18K Gold

The color, sturdiness, and price of gold jewelry are all dependent on karat value. All karat values of gold are “real gold” they all have different percentages of gold. Karat values can range from 1 to 24 but 10-karat, 14-karat, and 18-karat are the most common values available in jewelry pieces.

Iliana 18K Rose Gold AAAA Patroke Kunzite and G-H SI Diamond Ring 4.20 Grams 7.70 ctw

This Patroke Kunzite ring from the ILIANA Collection uses 18K rose gold.

Karat

10k

14k

18k

Gold Percentage

41.7%

58.3 %

75%

Color

Pale yellow

Slightly yellow

Yellow orange

Durability

Extremely durable

Very durable

Durable

Scratch resistance

Extremely scratch resistant

Scratch resistant

Price

Cheapest

Less expensive

Expensive

14-karat gold is the most popular karat value in the United States. 14-karat gold can be alloyed with other metals to create all different colors of the rainbow. It is hypoallergenic jewelry; with the proper care, it can last a lifetime. 14-karat gold is a great option for engagement rings and other items of daily wear.

Alloys: What About Those Other Metals?

Pure gold is extremely soft, adding alloys increases the durability and changes the color of gold. Every karat value below 24-karat gold uses alloyed metals.

Common gold alloys include:

Copper: Copper adds a red color to the gold. It is used in combination with silver to make rose gold.

Platinum, palladium, zinc, and nickel: These metals “bleach” gold or make it lighter. Most metals bleach gold but platinum, palladium, zinc, and nickel create white gold.

Iron: Iron adds blue to gold. Iron may also be used in combination with copper to make a grayish gold.

Silver: Silver adds green to gold. Silver can be used in combination with cadmium and copper to make an even deeper green color.

Aluminum: Aluminum turns gold purple.

Karats: How to Find the Value

The best way to find the karat is by checking for a stamp on the jewelry. This might be on the inside of a ring or on the clasp of a necklace or a bracelet. The stamp will either explicitly say the karat count (denoted with K, kt, or k in the U.S.; CT or ct in the UK and Ireland) or will list a series of numbers. These numbers represent percentages that correspond to karat markings. For example, 417 is 41.7% gold or 10-karat gold.

Doorbuster Princess Cut Natural Yellow and White Diamond VS 3.00 ctw Ring in 14K Yellow Gold 6.50 Grams

Most gold jewelry includes a stamp indicating gold purity.

There are a couple options to find the karat value of jewelry if there are no markings present or verification is needed. Jewelry appraisers are trained professionals that use technology and observation to discover the karat value of gold. At-home methods of discovering the karat of gold are available but not nearly as accurate. It is important to see a jewelry appraiser whenever possible.

Observation: Since 24-karat gold has very little alloyed metal, it will always be a yellow-gold color. Any other colors present in jewelry are indications that the gold is not 24-karat. It is near impossible for the untrained eye to tell the exact karat count through observation alone.

Best at-home method: Gold testers are widely available online. These testers can determine the exact karat of gold. Some are more accurate than others, make sure to read the reviews to verify the gold tester will work.

In-pantry at-home method: This method can determine whether jewelry is pure gold or not. Put vinegar on your jewelry. A color change means the jewelry is less than 24-karat, simply gold-plated, or has no gold at all. Jewelry will turn black if it is just gold plated.

Carats: Are They Different from Karats?

Diamond carats are very different from gold karats. Carat is a measurement of the weight of gems, mainly diamonds (0.2g = 1 carat). Diamond carat prices are unique because they are controlled by “magic numbers” which are markers determining the points where diamond prices increase. The magic numbers are: 0.90 cts, 1.00 cts, 1.50 cts, 2.00 cts, 3.00 cts, 4.00 cts, and 5.00 cts. As a buyer, it is vital to know the magic numbers to get the best price for the best diamond. Purchase diamonds that are at the top of the magic number range. Buy a 0.99 carat diamond rather than a 1.00 carat diamond. They look the same size, but 0.99 carats is much cheaper!

The 4Cs are the golden rules when it comes to finding the perfect diamond. Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color. Here is a quick rundown of the rest of the 4Cs.

Cut: How the light will hit the curves and edges of a diamond. Essentially, how the diamond will sparkle.
Clarity: This refers to how clear the diamond is, or how many impurities it contains.
Color: Colored diamonds can be pink, blue, yellow, and more. Some diamonds are near colorless with light shades of yellow.

Allergies: How to Find Hypoallergenic Jewelry

Those pesky allergies and jewelry. The higher the karat value, the less likely the jewelry is to cause a reaction as it would contain less allergy-inducing metals. 14-karat gold is a great option for hypoallergenic jewelry, it strikes a balance between price and karat count. Look for gold that is nickel-free to reduce allergy risk.

Style: How to Mix and Match Karats and Colors

Jewelry of different karat values and colors can be mixed to match your personal style. Keep in mind, different karat values of jewelry have different colors. Be careful when trying to match jewelry colors exactly.

Luxuriant Lab Grown Diamond E-F VS 2.50 ctw Heart Ring in 950 Platinum 6.50 Grams

What rings would you stack with this 18K white gold and diamond ring?

Learn different color options when mixing and matching various karat values of jewelry. Wear purple gold earrings and a blue gold necklace to complement it. You can also try different shades of gold, such as rose and yellow gold.

What Did We Discover?

In our journey along the golden path, we demystified:

Karat Definition: The amount of gold in gold jewelry.
24-karat Gold: 24-karat gold is pure gold and stunning but is not always the best choice for frequent wear.
Other Karat Values: 18-karat, 14-karat, and 10-karat gold are great options for those wanting gold that lasts.
Finding the Karat Value: If there is no stamp, jewelry appraisers are the best people to look to when trying to find the karat value. There are some at-home methods that can determine whether jewelry is pure gold.
Alloyed Metals: Alloyed metals increase the durability of gold and change it to colors of blue, green, rose, and white.
Carat Definition: Diamond carats measure categorize and measure the weight of diamonds. 0.2 grams equal 1 carat.

The End of Our Journey

Finding the best karat value for you is all about determining how your life sizes up to your jewelry. Should your budget allows it and your gold is not destined for daily wear, go for that 24-karat gold! If you are looking for something to pass on to your grandchildren and wear more often go for the 14-karat and 18-karat. If you want some sparkle and shine on a smaller budget buy yourself some 10-karat gold.

Remember jewelry is always a reflection of what you represent. Buy items that are meaningful to you and will make your life a little brighter.

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