Gold Karat Numbers Meaning – The difference explained

If you’ve ever looked at gold jewelry, you may have been overwhelmed by the options. It can feel like there are so many numbers and letters to consider, and it can be confusing even for people who know what those things stand for. You probably want the best quality gold for your money, so let’s break down the karat system to make it easier.

Some semi-complicated math goes into determining the karat of the gold. Sometimes “karat” is also spelled “carat,” just to make things more confusing. Yay! The word karat (or carat) comes from the ancient Greek word for carob beans, which is how gold used to be measured. 24 karats means that something is pure gold, so 6 karats means that the jewelry is 25 percent gold, and 1 karat equals 4.167 percent. Gold is often sold in multiples of 6, which makes our lives a little easier! 12 karats is 50 percent gold and 18 karats equals 75 percent. The color of the gold is not a factor in the percentage of actual gold in the mixture. More on that later!

It may seem that 24 karat gold is the only way to go, but there are some drawbacks to purchasing pure gold. Just like with silver, pure gold is softer and less durable than gold that has been mixed with other metals. 18 karat gold has become the “gold standard” (pun intended) for many jewelry experts, as it is very durable but still has a high level of gold. What is considered ideal in one country might not be ideal in another, however. In some countries, durability is valued over purity of gold, while in others it is the exact opposite! This is why there are so many options. Regardless of country, you may feel very strongly about having jewelry that is pure gold, especially for pieces you don’t intend to wear every single day. It is generally recommended that for items that will be worn on a daily basis (such as wedding rings), buyers should purchase 14 to 18 karat gold so the jewelry is less likely to become scratched or damaged.

When an item is gold-plated, the karat measurement only applies to the parts that are gold. In other words, if you purchase a gold-plated ring that is 18 karat, the inner metal is not counted in the percentage of gold. The base of that ring will be a solid cheap metal, such as nickel, and then be covered with a mixture of 75 percent gold and 25 percent other metal. Gold-plated jewelry can fall apart easily, so you’re probably better off (even financially, in the long run) purchasing solid gold, regardless of karat.

Even though it can seem a little confusing to figure out the karat system, especially compared to the silver quality system, it’s not so bad. All you need to know is that 24 karats is pure gold, and that most jewelers recommend purchasing gold that is close to 18 karats. Shop with a jeweler you trust, and chances are you will never even have to worry about karats.