Gold is considered one of the main precious metals, and karats (Kt) symbolize the purity and quality of the gold used in each piece of jewelry. Pure gold is gold in its natural state, without any alloy with other metals, and consists of 24 Kt. However, pure gold is a very soft material and not recommended for jewelry manufacturing.
Consequently, pure gold is used in an alloy with other metals (usually silver or copper) because, while giving it greater consistency, different tonalities and nuances are achieved. White gold, for example, is a mixture of gold with silver or palladium, and rose gold is an alloy of gold and copper.
In fine and high jewelry, 18Kt gold (18 karat gold), also known as First Law Gold, is used; this refers to the fact that it is made up of 18 parts of pure gold and 6 parts of another type of metal. It is also recognized as 750/1000, which means that an 18 kt piece is composed of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals.
The karats of gold (Kt) should not be confused with the carats of precious stones (Ct), since the latter refer to the weight of the gem, meaning 1 Ct is equivalent to 0.20 gr. To understand it better, we recommend this post that talks about what a carat is.
At MUMIT, we only make jewelry in 18 Kt gold. If you want to learn how to determine the karats of gold in a piece of jewelry to calculate its value, keep reading below.
How to know the karats of gold
As a general rule, the karats should be marked on the piece of jewelry itself. This mark is called a hallmark, and its equivalences are as follows:
Hallmark – Karats – Percentage of Fine Gold
375 – 9 Kt – 33.30%
585 – 14 Kt – 58.50%
750 – 18 Kt – 75%
999 – 24 Kt – 99.9%
Jewelry made in 14 kt (585/1000) and 9 kt (375/1000) has a much lower proportion of gold, so it is considered low-alloy gold. Low-alloy gold is used to make costume jewelry or low-quality jewelry, and it is often plated to simulate the same tone as 18 kt pieces, but this plating will wear off and disappear over time. Its value will be much lower, as the proportion of gold in the piece is less.
Most jewelry pieces carry a hallmark indicating whether the piece is 18 kt gold (750) or a low-alloy gold piece (585 or 375). If the piece does not have a visible hallmark, there are different tests that can be applied to the jewelry to determine how many karats it has. There are special analysis kits for testing gold, which include acids that determine the purity of the gold.
To use the kit, you should scratch the piece with the stone it contains, but in a protected area such as the inside, as this scratch will be permanent and it is advisable to do it in a spot on the jewelry where it will not be visible. Kits can be purchased online and include instructions for performing all tests easily. However, in some countries, there are restrictions on home delivery as these are acid tests and extreme care is recommended in their handling. If you cannot obtain one of these kits, we recommend consulting a professional to verify the jewelry.
At MUMIT, we only work with 18 Kt gold to guarantee the quality of the jewelry, thus creating unique timeless designs, such as Mumit's 18 karat gold engagement rings. Your Mumit jewel will always be accompanied by a certificate that vouches for it being a piece made of 18Kt gold.
We encourage you to discover the MUMIT universe in our stores, on our website, and on our social networks. There you will find new trendy designs made of 18Kt gold and precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies that you will love.
