How Much
Gold
Is In My Gold Jewelry?
Gold content is measured in Karats. Karat
is not a measurement of weight. It is a number
that indicates the percentage of pure gold contained within an alloyed metal used in the jewelry industry.
(By the way, don’t get karat confused with the
word carat, which is the term used for the measurement
of weight with regard to diamonds and gemstone.)
Pure
Gold is considered to be 24 Karat, commonly abbreviated 24k
But –
because of gold’s softness it is usually alloyed (or mixed) with other metals, such as copper and silver. This
“mixing” or alloying creates a metal that is stronger and more durable when used in an application such as
jewelry.
So – how
much “pure” gold is in your gold jewelry? Here’s a chart to help you understand that
ratio.
Ø
10k gold is 41.67% gold
Ø
12k gold is 50.00% gold
Ø
14k gold is 58.50% gold
Ø
16k gold is 66.67% gold
Ø
18k gold is 75.00% gold
Ø
19k gold is 79.17% gold
Ø
20k gold is 83.33% gold
Ø
22k gold is 91.67% gold
Ø
24k gold is pure gold or 100%
© Rocks to Gems
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