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Writer's pictureAngela Cisneros

What is a Karat?

I realize that shopping for jewelry can be a little confusing when you consider all the various prices and pieces. For instance, two rings can be the exact same style but the price is different, why is that? One of the reasons has to do with karats of gold!



When gold comes out of the earth is ALWAYS yellow in color, and it is ALWAYS soft! Gold is malleable which means that it can be permanently pressed out of shape without breaking or cracking. It is also ductile which means that it can be drawn out into thin wire. In fact, one ounce of gold can be drawn into 50 miles of thin wire!


In order to make gold durable enough to wear in jewelry, other metals are added. Some of the common metals added are silver, copper, and zinc. And, other metals are added to make gold different colors! See my blog from last week: www.angelacisneros.com/post/colorful-gold


The abbreviation kt stands for karats, which is the unit of measurement used to denote how much pure gold is in the metal mix. (Diamonds are also measured in carats, but as you can see, it is spelled differently using a c instead of a k)


· 10kt is 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts other metals, or 41.7% pure gold

· 14kt is 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts other metals, or 58.5% pure gold

· 18kt is 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts other metals, or 75% pure gold

· 24kt is pure gold (not very practical for jewelry wearing!)


When all quality and gemstone factors are equal, a 10kt gold ring will be significantly cheaper than an 18kt gold ring. The price is directly related to the amount of pure gold content. More gold content equals a higher price. The metal color will be different as well. The higher the gold content, the richer and robust the gold color will be!


I would love to help you find jewelry for someone special this holiday season! Even if that someone special is you! Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:

  • One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)

  • Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)

  • Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 24 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)

Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.angelacisneros.com/book-appointment

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