When looking at gold, you come across different purities and carats (or Karats in U.S. English). We usually understand that the higher the carat, the higher the purity and market value. But what do the numbers really mean and why does it matter? Read our gold purity guide below to get a better understanding of carats and purities.
What Do Gold Carats and Purity Mean?
Carats tell you how many parts of the item or jewellery piece is pure gold. The higher the carat number, the more gold the item contains and the more it is worth.
Pure gold is rated at 24 carats, which means that 24 out of 24 parts are pure gold. That means the item is entirely unalloyed, pure gold. Pure gold is a very soft material and is seldom used in jewellery on its own, which is why jewellery is typically made from alloys of gold and other metals. Silver, copper or palladium make the items more durable and suitable for every-day wear.
The most common carats in jewellery are:
24K – the purest form of gold (99.9%)
18K – 75% gold
14K – 58.5% gold
9K – 37.5 % gold
This means that an 18 carat necklace is 75% pure gold and 25% other metals.
How Do Carats Impact the Gold Prices and Qualities?
The carats have a direct impact on gold’s value. Because the value of gold items depends on how much gold the item contains, a higher carat means the piece is worth more than a piece of the same weight but lower purity. Despite carats being important, it is good to remember that the value also depends on total weight. For example, a heavy 14 carat gold chain can be worth more than a light 18 carat piece of jewellery.
Sometimes people also confuse the colour of a jewellery piece with carats. It is easy to assume that a yellow gold item that “looks like real gold” is automatically worth more than a similar item made of white gold. The colour does not, however, indicate purity. The different gold colours are made by adding different metals to gold. Yellow gold, white gold and rose gold can all be 14 or 18 ct gold and worth the exact same amount.
Another misconception is that the higher the carat, the more durable the item is in long-time wear. Many might think that engagement rings, wedding rings and other jewellery meant for daily wear for years to come have to be made of high-carat gold to last. Due to gold being soft, a lower carat alloy is actually more resistant to scratches and wear and tear.
How Do I Check What Carat My Gold Is?
In most jewellery, you will find a stamp or mark that tells you how many carats the item is. In Europe, the most common mark is a three digit number:
- 375 = 9K
- 585 = 14K
- 750 = 18K
- 999 = the highest possible purity (24K)
If there is no mark or if it is very unclear, our gold experts can check the purity with an acid test used for gold. You can read more about what happens during a valuation here.
What Is My Scrap Gold Worth?
This gold purity guide has told you how much pure gold the item contains, but the final value depends on weight and the current market price. You might have jewellery at home without knowing its exact purity. Thankfully it is easy to have all items valued by an expert during a free valuation. Each piece is checked and weighed closely.
If you want to find out what your jewellery and other items are worth, bring them for a free valuation to Gold Arthur. The decision to sell is always yours.
