Understanding Gold Karat Values: 10K, 14K, 18K, and 24K Explained
When you look at gold jewelry, you'll often see stamps like "14K" or "18K." But what do these numbers actually mean? Understanding gold karats is essential whether you're buying, selling, or just curious about your jewelry.
What is a Karat?
A karat (K or kt) is a measurement of gold purity. It tells you how much of the metal is actually gold versus other alloys. The scale goes from 1 to 24, with 24 being pure gold.
Breaking Down the Karats
24K Gold (99.9% Pure)
22K Gold (91.7% Pure)
18K Gold (75% Pure)
14K Gold (58.3% Pure)
10K Gold (41.7% Pure)
How to Identify Gold Karats
Look for stamps on your jewelry:
Common stamps include:
How Karats Affect Value
Higher karat gold contains more pure gold, so it's worth more per gram. However, the total value depends on:
Get Your Gold Tested
Not sure what karat your gold is? Bring it to Barnes Gold Exchange for free testing. We use professional equipment to accurately determine your gold's purity and give you a fair quote.
Call us at (817) 555-0123 or visit our Arlington location.
