Gold Carats Explained in simple Terms
It is likely that many of us have come across the term Carat in relation to gold. It is often mistaken as a unit of weight but it refers to the percentage of pure gold within an article.
So, what’s the difference between 9ct and 22ct gold?
Here’s how they are broken down:
- 24 carat Gold
- is the ultimate gold carat – it doesn’t go any higher than this. It’s the purest form and consists of 99.9% gold. It is naturally yellow and highly valuable, but very soft and malleable, so it is not usually used to make fine jewellery or intricate objects.
- 22 carat Gold
- consists of around 91.6% gold and so is highly priced. It is also very soft, so it’s not ideal for stone set jewellery, being more suitable for plain gold jewellery, such as wedding bands.
- 18 carat Gold
- contains 75% gold, with the rest made up of other more durable metal alloys used to add colour and strength. White metals will be added to create white gold with copper added to create rose gold. 18ct yellow gold is appreciated for its radiance and is much warmer and brighter in tone than 14ct and 9ct gold – but with its high percentage of gold, it still comes at a higher price.
- 14 carat Gold
- has about 58.5% pure gold and has a warm yellow hue. It is more affordable than 18ct gold, making it a popular choice.
- 9 carat Gold
- has 37.5% pure gold; it is the most affordable form of gold jewellery and portrays a light yellow hue. Its higher percentage of other metals, makes it stronger and more durable and particularly suited to the creation of jewellery.
- And if you have Questions about your own gold or would like to know the value stop by our shop at Apex Gold Silver Coin.
- We will be more than happy to give you pricing on value and what we will pay address below.
605 Walnut St SW, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
