Difference Between Carat And Karat Gold Buyers-Must-Know
goldandlandsadmin March 23, 2023 No Comments
There is a big common difference between carat and karat in the Gold and precious stone business. Just like in the English language, we have what is called “Homophones.” Homophones are words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling. These words may be spelled differently from each other such as to, too, and two, or they may be spelled the same way but stands for different meaning when used.
Most times new buyers, investors or brokers new to the gold business industry tend to mix the use of the words “Karat and carat,” who actually don’t know they stand for two different meanings in gold and precious stone commodity details and actually sound similar in pronunciation. In as much as this can be understood by professional miners, few resource marketers like me and others in this field of profession. I believe it is wise to inform those who use both words in the request of either gold or diamond.
What Does Carat Mean?
A carat is defined as weight measured in the size of a gemstone such as a diamond. “Carat” as a spelling can refer to either gold fineness/purity or diamond weight.
What Is Karat In Gold Terms?
The word “Karat” indicates the amount of solid gold in an alloy based on a total of 24 parts. So, 18K gold is 18/24 parts gold. However, the use of a carat (in place of karat) to indicate the fineness of gold is also considered acceptable. “karat” can not be used to describe diamond weight, in any part of the world you are. In places like the United Kingdom and Australia, “carat” is the default often used to refer to gold purity, while in the US tends to use “karat”.
Usually high Karat gold signifies the high purity of gold. Different purity of gold is used to make various gold-based items such as bars, coins, jewelry, etc. Pure Gold is therefore 100% Gold, unmixed with any other element.
The question is: How Do I know The Karat Of My Gold?
Difference Between Gold Karats – 24k, 23k, 22k, 21k, 20k:
The purity of gold is usually measured in terms of karate. The higher the karat of gold, the purer the gold would be. Be it molded into coins, bars, or precious jewelry; gold is available in a variety of karats, and these karats are used differently.
Also read: 7 Tips For Trading Gold In Africa
What Does 24 Karat Mean And It Applications?
This type of gold is a 99.9% purity level. 24-karat gold is 100% gold and does not contain any other metal mixture. Because of its excellent purity and distinct bright yellow color, 24-karat gold is more expensive than 23, 22, or 18-karat gold.
24k gold is brilliant in color but won’t be durable for making jewelry. Is so soft to resist wear and tear.
What is 23-karat gold and it applications?
23k gold is real gold with high purity and it’s composed of 95.8% gold and 4.2% alloy. 23k refers to the gold-level fineness.
This type of gold is slightly harder and more durable than 24karat pure gold due to the small content of other mixed metals. It can be found in plain gold jewelry items such as earrings, chains, and rings.
What Type Of Gold Is 22-Karat And It Applications?
22karat of gold consists of 92% gold and 8% other metal alloys like silver, zinc, and nickel. Purity is most times 91.67% gold.
9%. 22-karat gold mostly purchased by most jewelers, this is because of its common use in making pieces of jewelry. The 22-karat gold is commonly used in designing jewelry items. metal alloys like silver, zinc, nickel, and allied, 22 karat gold makes durable and sturdy pieces of jewelry.
What Type Of Gold Is 21-Karat?
21k gold consists of 21 parts of pure gold and 3 parts of other metals or 87.5% of pure gold and 12.5% of other alloys.
This level of gold purity is popular for plain jewelry mainly. Although this type of gold could be a little more durable than 22karat gold, its hardness is still not classified enough for a heavy gemstone.
21k gold is much popular in countries of the Middle East such as Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Israel, and others.
20-Karat Of GOLD And It Applications?
20karat gold consists of 4 parts of other metals. In other words, it is composed of 83.3% gold fineness and 16.7% alloy. This type of gold comes in most vintage jewelry shops around Europe and the US.
However, 20karat gold is quite more popular in India than any other type of gold. It is most times preferable for other karat gold jewelry as it is quite soft for heavily studded jewelry pieces
19-Karat Of GOLD And It Applications?
Do you know that 19-karat gold comprises of 5 parts of other metals, and it is 79.1% pure gold and 20.9% alloy.
This type of gold has deep, rich yellow color; however, it is not suitable for every lifestyle. 19k gold is harder than 24karat pure gold, but it is softer than 14k, or even 18k gold, meaning it will sustain light scratches much easier. So if you have an active lifestyle, 19karat gold is not the best choice for engagement and wedding rings, this is because it is fragile to scratch and it makes sense to opt for a different purity.
What Is 18-Karat Of Gold Used For And It Applications?
18k gold contains 18 parts of pure gold and 6 parts of other metals added, it is 75% gold and 25% alloy metals, which makes it durable and hard like copper and silver, which makes this type of gold less expensive than 24k, 23k, 22k, 21k, 20k and 19k gold.
Nowadays, diamond and other gemstone jewelry are usually made in 18k gold. It is worth mentioning that 18k has a slightly duller gold color compared to higher levels of purity; however, it still shows a bright coloring.
To Summarize Between Carat And Karat
Buying gold depends on the purpose of investment, so therefore when buying gold it is good to first consider what purpose it would serve to get the best karat that suits its functions. Therefore, if you are purchasing gold only for investment purposes I would suggest you go for 24k gold Gold bars or gold coins available in the purest form of gold.
