How is the Karat of Gold Determined?
Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It has been used for currency, jewelry, and even weaponry since ancient civilizations began using it. Over time, gold became more valuable than silver in many ancient cultures because of its hardness and ability to resist tarnishing. Gold jewelry has been used throughout history as currency, but it’s also a beautiful way to add a little bling to your life. The secret is in the karats.
Why the Need for Karats?
Pure gold is beautiful, but it’s also soft and malleable. It’s not very durable. This means that pure gold jewelry can easily wear down over time. Some people prefer a more durable type of jewelry for this reason, so jewelers often combine pure gold with other metals to create a stronger piece of jewelry.
What Are Karats?
The karat of gold refers to the percentage of pure gold in an alloy. 24K is pure gold, and 18K is a mixture that includes some other metal in addition to gold. You can determine how much pure gold is in an item by using a scale known as the karat ratio. This ratio uses numbers from 1–24 to represent the amount of pure metal in an object. One karat equals 1/24 part of pure gold. So a 14-karat ring contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals. Pure gold is 24-karat, while most white gold is only 18-karat. The higher the number, the more refined metal you have.
When an alloy has a lesser percentage of pure gold, it is called a “reduced” or “low-karat” alloy and indicates that other metals such as copper or silver have been added to the mix.
Invest in Gold Now
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