Karat
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The term "karat" (sometimes spelled as "carat") is a measure of the purity or fineness of It indicates the proportion of pure precious metal in an alloy. The karat system is commonly used to describe the quality of gold, especially in jewelry and .
The karat scale typically ranges from 1 to 24, with each karat representing 1/24th part of pure precious metal (typically gold) in the alloy. Here's what different karat values mean, using gold as an example:
24 Karat (24K): This is considered pure gold, with no other metals mixed in. It is 99.9% gold and is the highest level of purity. Jewelry made of 24K gold is relatively soft and may not be suitable for intricate designs due to its malleability.
18 Karat (18K): An 18K gold alloy contains 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts other metals, such as copper or silver. It is 75% gold. 18K gold is known for its balance between purity and durability and is a popular choice for fine jewelry.
14 Karat (14K): A 14K gold alloy consists of 14 parts pure gold and 10 parts other metals, making it 58.3% gold. 14K gold is widely used for a variety of jewelry items because of its durability and lower cost compared to higher-karat gold.
10 Karat (10K): A 10K gold alloy contains 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts other metals, making it 41.7% gold. It is the lowest karat value that can legally be labeled as "gold" in some countries, including the United States. 10K gold is relatively strong and affordable but has a lower gold content compared to higher-karat gold.
Jewelry and other gold products are often marked with their karat value to indicate their purity. The choice of karat depends on factors like the desired color, durability, and price point. Higher-karat gold tends to have a richer yellow color due to its higher gold content, while lower-karat gold may have a slightly paler hue due to the presence of other metals.
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