1. Karat Gold – Understanding Gold Purity
Gold has been among the favorite metals of people since ancient times due to its bright yellow color, free availability in nature, easy processing and durability. While it was a metal that was used abundantly in the production of various items and in metal coins in the old times, today it finds usage areas as jewelry and in different sectors due to its high price.When we think of gold, yellow, bright and magnificent jewelry comes to life in our imagination at very first.
Although gold, which is a yellow and soft element, is not 100% pure in nature, it is found in a purity of 99.99%, which is close to it. At first, when we say gold jewelry, we think that these jewelry are made of only gold, but the truth is not. It is made as an alloy with some other metals Among the elements most often mixed with gold are copper, silver, nickel and zinc. Mixing these elements with gold results in a more durable alloy.
While the concept of % (percentage) is used in chemistry for the purity of gold, the terms "karat" or "carat" are used in relation to the purity of gold in jewellery. While 24 karat gold represents the purest gold alloy setting, other common gold purities are 18 karat, 14 karat, and 8 karat. These concepts are briefly expressed with the letter "K". For example, the phrase “14 K” written inside a gold ring means that the gold is 14 karat.
In order to calculate the setting of an item made of gold, the milliyem value must first be found. The milliyem value is briefly explained as the evaluation of the purity of gold out of 1000. In order to calculate this value, the pure gold mass in the material made of gold is divided by the total mass and multiplied by 1000. For example, a gauge of 750 means gold that's 75 percent pure (which means it's 18K gold—24 value of the 18 division maximum, or 75 percent pure)
The purity and milliem values of the most commonly used gold carats in the market are listed as follows:
-24 carat gold is 99.99% pure and has a milliyem value of 999.9.
-18 carat gold is 75% pure and has a milyem value of 750.
-14 carat gold is 58.5% pure and has a milliyem value of 585.
-8 carat gold is 33,33% pure and has a milliyem value of 333.
Gold Purity Chart
2. Which gold karat is best for jewellery?
As the percentage of gold in the jewelry increases, its price will increase accordingly. The price of an 18 carat piece will be higher than that of 14 carat gold. However, monetary value alone does not affect purchasing decisions in gold jewelry preference. The color and ease of use of the jewelry also affect the purchasing decision.
Considering the bright yellow appearance of gold, the higher the karat of gold, the more yellow it appears. When considering white gold, it is easier to reach bright white gold as the amount of alloy in the gold increases and the karat decreases. For example, 18 carat yellow gold has a darker yellow tone than 14 carats, 14 carat white gold has a stronger white color than 18 carats.
14K Solid Yellow Gold,White Gold and Rose Gold Infinity Name Necklace
When we look at the differences between gold purities, durability and suitability for different lifestyles are also an important point in the selection. Gold with high alloy value is more resistant to wear and tear. 14K gold is frequently used in wedding wedding rings because of its high economic value and resistance to scratching. People who are involved in sports with an active lifestyle or who work in demanding jobs prefer 8K gold because it is more durable.
3. Basic Guides to Understand Differences Between Gold Karats
The settings or purity of gold are often stamped on them. Jewelry usually has tiny inscriptions such as 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, or 916, 750, 585, 416, 373, which indicate how much gold it contains in 1000, on the clasp or on the inside.
The reason why gold has so many carats is that this metal has a very soft structure. As the gold rate in the mine decreases, the setting also decreases, and the hardness rate increases.
The karats of gold can also be understood from its color. The natural color of gold is yellow. There will also be a difference in the color of jewelry with a low setting and different elements in it. For example, rode gold is obtained from alloys dominated by copper, and green gold is obtained from alloys dominated by silver.
