What is the karat of gold? Is 24-karat gold better or 18-karat gold?
If you have ever been to the gold market and intend to buy a particular piece of jewelry, you have heard about the karat of gold. For example, the seller has said that the karat of this bracelet is 18 or 24; however, do you know what these numbers indicate? Is a higher karat better or a lower karat? In this context, we will discuss the karat of gold and their differences. If you would like to get acquainted with the types of karats of gold and know what characteristics each of them has, we recommend that you read this content to the end.
What does the karat of gold mean?
The karat of gold means the purity of gold; the purer the gold, the higher the karat. Since gold is very malleable, jewelry designers try to mix it with other metals and alloys to create a more rigid metal.
Gold deforms easily, so goldsmiths mix it with other metals to prevent this. To determine the value of gold, you should pay attention to its purity; its weight alone is unimportant.
The karat of gold also indicates the amount of pure gold used in a piece of jewelry or coin. The higher the karat of gold, the harder it will be to maintain it, and of course, its value will also increase. To invest in gold, you must pay attention to the karat of the gold you purchase.
How is the karat of gold measured?
The karat of gold is measured as a number between 0 and 24; naturally, the closer this number is to 24, the higher its purity. For a better understanding, consider this example: if we divide 1000 grams of gold into 24 parts, a piece of jewelry containing 750 grams of pure gold in 1000 grams equals 18-karat gold, which indicates that 75 percent is pure gold. On the other hand, 18-karat gold suggests that out of 24 parts of a piece of gold, 18 parts are pure gold, and the other six parts are other metals. The most important and famous gold carats include 10-karat gold, 12-karat gold, 14-karat gold, 18-karat gold, 20-karat gold, 22-karat gold, and 24-karat gold. Each of these carats has its unique application and characteristics, and naturally, the lower the carat of gold, the higher the strength.
Types of Gold Carats
In this section, we are discussing the characteristics of each gold carat. As we said, from 10-carat gold and above, each has its unique characteristics and, of course, its application. The price of gold can change based on its carat. If you want to learn about the applications of the most essential carats, read this section of the content carefully.
10 Carat Gold
When we talk about 10-carat gold, we mean that the jewelry in question is made of 41.7% pure gold. In fact, more than 50% of this type of gold is made of other alloys and metals, which indicates its low gold value. These alloys increase the strength and durability of gold, but they cannot be used to make expensive jewelry with special appearances. The first reason is that the value of the gold used in it is low, and the next point is that it has a weaker malleability than gold, so it is not possible to make delicate designs in it.
10 karat gold is mainly used to manufacture technological parts that require gold. However, it is also helpful in manufacturing jewelry that uses gold pieces. 10-karat gold can be used to make leather bracelets or stones with gold. Also, since it is affordable, it can be used to create jewelry that is used daily.
12 karat gold
12 karat gold indicates that 50 percent of the gold used in our desired product is pure gold, and half contains other metals. This gold can also be used in various ways, but due to its low financial value, it is used to make multiple pieces that require gold, or it is ultimately used for children’s jewelry or everyday jewelry. This type of gold is slightly yellower than 10-karat gold. However, it has a relatively weaker strength.
14-karat gold
This type of gold contains 58.3% pure gold, indicating that it is primarily gold jewelry, unlike the other carats we have introduced. The alloys used to make this type of gold mostly include copper and silver. The color of this type of gold is yellower and, of course, warmer, and it can be recognized that it is mostly gold jewelry. 14-karat gold is very popular because it is affordable but has features that are very similar to gold.
Most people who like to wear gold-colored and gold-made jewelry but do not have a reasonable budget try to use 14-karat gold. This gold is used to make necklaces, bracelets, and, of course, earrings. Since it has higher resistance than other golds with a higher carat, it is also a very popular gold carat for gold designers. If you are planning to buy everyday jewelry, we suggest you purchase jewelry that has 14-karat gold. The karat of gold is significant for the design of gold and jewelry.
18-karat gold
Of course, you have heard of 18-karat gold many times, this type of gold is widely used for various jewelry. On the one hand, it is very popular because it has a gorgeous color and golden shine, and on the other hand, because 18-karat gold is cheaper than 24-karat, people are interested in purchasing this type of gold. Due to its high price, much of today’s jewelry is made of 18-karat gold. 18-karat gold is about 75% pure gold, and the remaining 25% can be formed using other alloys. Market research has shown that many people are interested in jewelry made of 18-karat gold.
The color of 18-karat gold is a deep yellow, close to orange, and is brighter than other lower-karat golds. This type of gold is scratch-resistant and more durable than 22-karat and 24-karat gold. As we mentioned, on the one hand, it is affordable because it is 18-karat gold, but it is very similar to pure and 24-karat gold. Therefore, it can be used to make and design heavy jewelry so that the final price is affordable. Also, people who do not have the cost of buying 24-karat gold but would like to have jewelry with a gold-like appearance can use 18-karat gold. In jewelry that uses precious stones such as diamonds or rubies, 18-karat gold is used because of its resistance.
22-karat gold
22-karat gold, which means 91.7% is pure gold, is the closest carat type to 24-karat gold. The color of this gold is very close to the color of 18-karat gold, but gold dealers or enthusiasts may notice that it is slightly more colorful than 18-karat gold. This gold can be used to make jewelry with many geometric shapes, which require a high malleability.
22-karat gold is used to make all kinds of royal or wedding jewelry, but it is mostly used for necklaces because this type of jewelry usually has more specific intricacies and is generally difficult to make. Many women prefer the appearance of the jewelry they wear to be beautiful, so this group of women can use jewelry that contains 22-karat gold. However, the value of this type of gold is less than 24-karat gold, but it is more durable.
24-karat gold
The purest type of gold is called 24-karat gold, the most expensive type based on carat. This type of gold is 99.9 percent pure, and the remaining 0.01 is made up of other metals to increase the gold’s durability slightly. In some cases, even these metals are unintentionally introduced into the gold-making process, but due to the small percentage, this type of gold is called pure gold or 24-karat gold. This type of gold is brighter than the other golds we introduced, and its golden color can be seen with the eye. Naturally, they are very valuable, but due to their low durability, they must be carefully cared for when using them.
This type of gold has very high malleability, and very special designs can be implemented using it. Jewelry designers use 24-karat gold because of its malleability to make very thin jewelry with a special appearance. Great care is taken in the process of making this type of gold because every 24-karat gold piece is also very valuable and should not be wasted.
It is interesting to know that while making 24-karat gold, goldsmiths collect the fine gold and dust that is separated and use them again to create other jewelry. 24-karat gold is suitable for women who care for their jewelry because it is susceptible and can be damaged more easily than other gold. So, when using it, pay attention to the conditions and carefully store the gold.
Distinguishing the pure gold from the fake
One of the most significant points that gold enthusiasts should consider is distinguishing pure gold from fake. All over the world, due to the value of gold, many profiteers try to profit by selling fake gold or gold with pure gold that is considered high-purity gold. However, if you, as a gold enthusiast or buyer, can distinguish between pure and fake gold, you will no longer be scammed. This section introduces you to the most important ways to prevent fraudsters from profiting. Checking melted gold, however, is much more difficult and specialized.
Checking the code engraved on the gold
Most jewelry or gold bars, especially if they have a high pure gold or are heavy, have a code on the back. This code indicates the pure gold you want to buy. For example, the code 999 indicates a pure gold of 24 and a purity of 99.9 percent. The code 750 also naturally indicates 18-karat gold and 75% purity. Therefore, you can pay attention to these codes before buying your desired gold.
In addition to these, jewelry that is highly valued often has the name of the workshop where it was made on the back. You can also pay attention to the name of the workshop to make sure that the gold you are buying is genuine and that you will not buy fake gold. However, the name or these numbers may also be mentioned on fake gold, so it is better to use the methods we have mentioned below.
Electronic gold testing device
The gold tester device works by measuring the conductivity of gold and easily helps you to know the percentage of purity of the gold you are looking for.
These devices are very accurate and help you understand the purity of the gold you are buying. The good thing about this device is that it is easily portable and valuable for gold enthusiasts.
If you are concerned about the authenticity or purity of the gold, you can use these devices and make your purchase with more confidence. However, you must also pay attention to the above in addition to this device.
Pay attention to the color of gold.
This method is for people skilled in gold; as we said, each gold carat has a special color due to its purity. The higher the gold carat, the more colorful it is and the closer it will be to the golden or yellow-orange color.
However, to identify these colors, you must seek help from a professional expert.
Considering that we have introduced different methods to you, it is better to use other methods and not just pay attention to the color of the gold.
Using gold purity analysis tools is the best method; with their high accuracy, they will help you make your purchase without any worries.
Gold Analysis Using X-Rays
X-ray analysis, or XRF, is an excellent method for analyzing the purity of gold that will not harm the gold itself. In this method, X-rays are shone on the surface of the metal, and the reflection of the rays shows how pure the gold is, and the device will determine it for you.
The accuracy of this device is very high, and you can be completely confident about it because it uses precise technology.
Most jewelers, gold dealers, and enthusiasts use this device to check the gold they intend to buy. You can also choose a gold shop with this device to make a purchase confidently.
However, if the gold shop you plan to buy from is reputable and under the supervision of the Gold and Jewelry Association, you can make your purchase without worry.
Final Words
Gold purity is a critical point that you should pay attention to when buying gold; in this content, we tried to talk to you about the concept of gold purity and the application of its different types. The gold karat indicates the purity of gold and is measured from 0 to 24. The closer this number is to 24, the higher the purity and the higher the amount of gold in the jewelry. The higher the gold karat, the greater its malleability, but the less durable it is. In this way, jewelers use a low gold karat if they want to make jewelry that is made of gold but is affordable and, of course, more durable.
If they want to make gold with a special design and, of course, has a higher value, they go for gold with a karat close to 24. Below, we discussed methods to help you distinguish fake gold from the original. By using the techniques mentioned, you can experience a safe purchase. We hope this article has helped you understand the gold karat and its use. Be sure to share your comments about this content with us.