How to differentiate between karats of gold?

We often hear about carat for diamonds, but is it the same as for gold? Not quite. The carat for a diamond expresses its weight, equivalent to 0.20 grams per carat. For gold, the carat is a unit of measurement for purity. The higher the carat, the higher the purity of the gold used in the jewelry.

Gold is a noble and ductile material, but its sensitivity to scratches and shocks makes the use of pure gold difficult. Pure gold jewelry must therefore be solid to best absorb shock. To address this issue, jewelers create mixtures of metals, called "alloys." Copper and silver are used for this purpose. These alloys give gold greater mechanical strength and allow the creation of finer objects.

The karat designation indicates the purity of gold contained in a piece of jewelry, a watch, or any other gold object. The karat is divided into 24 parts, just as boats were once divided into:

• 18-karat gold: or 725-thousandths gold, or 75% pure gold, is one of the most widely used alloys. The remaining 25% is composed of copper or silver. It boasts high gold purity. Conventional jewelry primarily uses 18-karat gold. Upon request, you can have items made from 22-karat gold (91.7% gold);
• 14-karat gold: 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% zinc, silver, or copper. It is found mainly in Nordic countries and the United States;
• 9-karat gold: 375-thousandths gold, it is economical because it contains half as much pure gold as 18-karat gold. Harder, due to its alloy, it becomes more brittle. Since the gold content is less, the jewelry is susceptible to oxidation.

24-carat gold, commonly referred to as "pure gold," is difficult to work with. Highly malleable, it has poor resistance to scratches, impacts, and handling. The first pure gold coin was produced by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1979. However, this pure gold is not truly pure. The purity contained in a 24-carat coin or gold bar is 99.99%.

Recognizing Gold Purity Using Hallmarks

24-karat gold is primarily used to make investment gold coins and ingots. The value of a piece of jewelry, an object, or a coin depends on the amount of gold used in its creation. This is why it is essential to know its purity during appraisals. Jewelers and professionals in the gold purchasing industry have specific techniques and resources to accurately determine the composition of the metals presented to them.

The hallmark is a mandatory mark in France, which allows you to identify an engraving on the metal using a magnifying glass. Depending on the purity of the gold, the indications vary:

• A seahorse: 24-karat gold;
• An eagle's head: 18-karat gold;
• A scallop shell: 14-karat gold;
• A clover: 9-karat gold;
• Square hallmark: gold-plated.