Gold karats indicate the purity of gold in jewelry, with 24k being the highest. Karat refers to gold purity, not weight. Gold is mixed with other metals to create an alloy. The most common ratings are 10k, 14k, and 18k. Higher karats don’t necessarily mean better quality. Gold is mixed with other metals to make it durable for daily use. Even high concentrations of gold can bend and scratch easily. 10k is the lowest purity metal that can still be considered gold in jewelry.
Gold karats typically refer to a measure of gold purity, with 24k being the highest. Before we go any further, it should be explained that carats actually refer to the weights of the stones, rather than the purity of the metals. In terms of the purity of gold, the correct term is karat. However, many people refer to karat gold when they are actually discussing karat gold. The two terms are often confused and very few may even realize that there is a difference in spelling.
Gold karats are needed to inform the consumer of the purity of the gold because gold is almost never in its purest form. Rather, it is mixed with other metals to create what is known as an alloy, a mix of two or more metals. Most people, therefore, like to figure out how much gold they are getting when they buy gold jewelry. The higher the karats of gold, the more expensive the jewelry is likely to be.
However, it should be noted that just because gold karats represent a higher number doesn’t mean the jewelry is better, shinier, or prettier. Rather, the term simply means that there are more alternative metals used if the number is lower. To be half gold, the karat gold must be 12k. However, it is extremely rare, but not impossible, to find such an assessment.
The most common ratings for karat gold are 10k, 14k and 18k. While there may be some variations, these represent the majority of gold jewelery sold worldwide. Choosing how many karats of gold to buy for a given piece may come down more to personal preference and desired length of time than anything else. However, for those who think they need to get the highest purity gold they can afford, this may not be the best decision.
To explain, first consider why gold is often mixed with another metal. It’s because the metal is very soft. It is so soft, in fact, that it can be shaped and molded by hand. Any pure gold jewelry, therefore, would not hold up to practical use being so soft. Therefore, it needs to be blended so that it can stand up to the rigors of daily use. Otherwise, it would be quickly deformed and scratched.
Even the highest concentrations of gold can bend and scratch relatively easily. This is why many, even if they can afford higher purity, tend to go with 10k or 14k gold. In most cases, 10k gold is considered the lowest purity metal that can be produced and is still referred to as gold. Therefore, gold in jewelry is rarely diluted more than this.
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