What is Karat Gold

For all of you out there wanting to learn about your favourite precious metal, this article would be square one. Read ahead to learn about karat gold.

Not all precious things in life are measurable, but you definitely can count on gold to be measurable. While, in general measurements give you estimates of different characteristics of an item, Karat gold facilitates understanding of the purity of gold. It is the standard measurement that is used worldwide to display, indicate and trade gold and gold products. Having a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of karat as a measurement of gold can not only set you apart from the majority of the precious metal clientele, but also give you an upper hand in selecting products of the highest quality and authenticity. That is why Starlight Jewellery wants you to be informed so you can make wise decisions in your golden endeavours.

Understanding karat gold

• History of Karat

The unit, karat, is not something that is newly associated with gold, but has been entangled in the precious metal trade for centuries. The karat system, as a measurement for gold, is believed to have started in the Roman Empire, where small seeds named carob seeds were used to measure gold. 24 carob seeds would be equivalent to a Roman gold coin, which translated into 24 karat gold, being the purest level of gold you can find in the market today.

• Definition of Karat

When the karat system is applied to a gold product, the item is hypothetically divided into a dozen equal parts, allowing a jeweller to indicate the purity of the gold depending on how many parts out of the twenty-four are pure gold. For example, this 24k Gold Moments Ring would be 99.9% pure gold. Karat gold is diverse with 24 karat and 9 karat when it comes to gold products such as gold bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

• Karat vs. Carat

Now, we warn you not to make the mistake of mixing up karat and carat. While karat is a unit of purity in gold, carat is a unit of weight for gemstones like diamonds. Even though it is different from one letter, knowing how to tell karat gold for purity is crucial when making informed decisions in your shopping.

Why is Karat Gold Important?

The importance of karat extends far beyond the purity of gold. As the karat goes higher, and the gold purity increases, the price peaks. Additionally, factors such as availability, strength and duration can be influenced by karat. When making a purchase decision, being informed about different aspects of your gold product can give you more autonomy in styling and investing.

Different Karat Levels and Their Properties

• 24 Karat (Pure Gold)

24 karat refers to gold jewellery and non-jewellery items, which have all 24 parts in real gold. However, when translating 24k into a gold purity percentage, it is 99.9%. This is due to the inability to eliminate all the impurities in gold when it is found in nature and the addition of other metal alloys to make the product stronger. 24k jewellery typically is more expensive than lower karat jewellery, with high durability and an undeniable yellow glow.

• 22 Karat

At the top of the list for gold jewellery lovers, 22-karat gold is known for its high durability and high gold purity with just the right balance. As you now may have guessed, 22k means that a product has 22k real gold parts out of 24 parts, translating into a 91.6% gold purity percentage. The rest of the products would consist of metal alloys such as zinc, copper, palladium, silver, nickel, iron and cadmium, giving malleability to manipulate gold into beautiful designs for products.

• 18 Karat

18 karat is usually processed at a lower point compared to 24k and 22k in gold products, due to the content of pure gold being less. Right there, with 22k on the list, is 18k as a result of being a popular choice for jewellery with 18 pure gold parts out of 24 parts, which is 75% gold purity with a higher concentration of metal alloys, which can add durability. Consequently, the price would be lower compared to the karats above.

• 14 Karat

At a gold purity of 58.3%, 14-karat gold jewellery tends to be almost half-and-half with pure gold and other metal alloys. As a result of the low content of gold and higher content of other metals, they tend to be more affordable and high in strength; however, they will not have the trademark warm shine that gold is known for among its lovers.

How to Choose the Right Karat for Your Needs

Knowing about the different karats and their unique characteristics may not always help you in every step of your experience. Your superpowers in selecting the best jewellery and other gold products come from knowing how to choose the right karat gold for you and your gold needs.

• Budget and Options

As karat gold is one of the main drivers of the cost of a gold product, you can use your budget as a key to unlock your golden options. Assess your finances and plan your budget for the purchase with specific details. You can keep a range with the lowest you will spend and the highest you can comfortably splurge for your gold self-care. When you have a budget, it will point you in the right direction for karat gold, which you might be looking for.

• Jewellery vs. Investment

If you are investing in gold in forms such as coins and bars, high purity is essential to make sure that you can secure your financial future with a high-valued gold item. This means if you are buying gold as an investment, durability and versatility would not be priorities. In contrast, when buying gold jewellery, you will need to consider a wide plethora of factors, such as durability and practicality in the long term, when choosing the right karat gold.

• Daily wear vs. Occasional Wear

For gold products that you intend to use daily, it is wise to consider karats with high durability, such as 22-karat gold or 18-karat gold, so that you can reap the benefits of your purchase for as long as possible. While gold jewellery with high purity may look breathtaking, with a low percentage of metal alloys, the products can lack the strength to last a lifetime, even with regular maintenance.

• Colour and Appearance

Gold is known and loved for its unique yellow summer colour and sharp lustre. These aesthetic qualities of gold metal are often found on higher karats such as 18k, 22k and 24k due to the high pure gold content. So, do not be surprised when the colour and appearance change and eventually diminish as the karat gold decreases.

Understanding Gold Alloys and Their Impact on Karat Gold.

Metal alloys are a key part of the manufacturing process of gold products, no matter what the karat gold they are. Alloys not only add strength to a soft metal such as gold and create variations of colours but also provide malleability for jewellers to manipulate the metal to make beautiful jewellery. Some common gold alloys used in the market are as follows:

• Copper
• Nickel
• palladium
• Silver
• Cadmium
• Iron

Depending on which metals are used in the manufacturing of products, they can change colour. For example, a piece of gold jewellery with a high copper percentage will result in rose gold, while using cool-tone metals such as silver and palladium will produce white gold.

Common Misconceptions About Karat Gold

• Higher Karat Equals Better Quality

We get why it might seem like the higher the karat, the better the quality of the product will be in a gold purchase. However, it is neither that simple nor true. When there is an extremely high percentage of real gold in a piece of jewellery, there is a risk for wear-and-tear- damage as gold naturally is a soft metal.

• Lower Karat is fake gold.

Simply because an item of gold jewellery is lower karat gold, it does not mean that it is counterfeit gold. Lower karat gold jewellery still has real gold but in less concentration. Lower karat gold will lack the aesthetic appeal of gold; however, if there is jewellery of 10 karat with striking yellow colours, it is likely to be fake gold.

How to Identify Genuine Karat Gold.

Common karat gold jewellery has a set of certifications and symbols given by the Singapore Assay Office to guarantee the authenticity of the gold products you are purchasing, whether they be gold bracelets or gold coins. These hallmarks are typically stamped on the internal surface of the jewellery and can be spotted as 999 for 24 karat gold, 22k for 916 and 18k for 750.

You can also use informal methods such as lightly rubbing your gold jewellery on a dried liquid foundation, as real gold will leave a black mark. To elevate it, you can ask for a consultation from an expert in the field to receive a professional opinion on how to identify genuine gold when you are shopping.

Wrapping up Karat,

As a measurement that has been persisting and passed the test of time in an ever-changing industry such as the gold market, it is a unit of gold purity that is worth knowing about. While there are many factors you can consider when choosing your gold pick, keep in mind the different types of karat and their characteristics to see which one suits your needs better. Finally, do not hesitate to ask questions, as all knowledge is power when it comes to selecting your dream gold jewellery in the perfect karat.