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Gold’s purity is measured in "karats". The term "karat" harks back to the ancient bazaars where "carob" beans were used to weigh precious metals. 24 Karat gold is pure gold, but its purity means it is more expensive and less durable than gold that is alloyed with other metals.
Karats Percent
(parts of gold per 24) (parts of gold per 100)
24 Karat 100 percent
18 Karat 75.0 percent
14 Karat 58.3 percent
10 Karat 41.6 percent
Gold Weight
The weight of gold or gold articles is usually expressed in troy ounces and/or pennyweight (dwt)
The "d" in the traditional symbol for pennyweight (dwt) is from the latin denarius, the small Roman coin which was the equivalent of a penny.
Gold Color
Yellow Gold is alloyed with silver and copper. It is the most frequently used type of gold there is.
White Gold is alloyed with a large percentage of silver and is therefore more expensive than yellow gold. White gold is highly reflective and not subject to tarnish
Rose Gold is alloyed with copper and silver.
Ex: 14kt yellow gold is 58.3% gold, 30% silver & 11.5% copper
14kt rose gold is 58.3% gold, 9% silver & 32.5% copper
Gold Markings
By U.S. law, every gold article must have a karat mark. In addition to the karat mark, every piece of gold jewelry should be stamped with a hallmark or trademark of the manufacturer.
Gold Regional Preferences
Each part of the globe has very different expectations of what "gold" is.
United States 14karat/10karat
European Union 18karat/14karat
Mid-East 22karat/18karat
Far-East 22karat/18karat/14karat
10 karat gold in the U. S. is very common and an acceptable alloy. Other parts of the world do not recognize or accept jewelry marked 10K as precious.
Gold Care
Gold is durable, sturdy, dependable. However, to get a lifetime of enjoyment from you jewelry
Keep your gold jewelry free from dust, moisture, perspiration and make-up
Do not wash your gold jewelry with ordinary soap and water, as this will leave a dull film on the surface. Instead, clean gold jewelry with a jeweler-recommended cleaning solution or an ultrasonic machine.
Avoid wearing gold jewelry when using harsh chemicals or doing rough work.
Protect your gold jewelry by storing it in a fabric lined jewelry box or wrapping it in a soft cloth when not being worn.
