A karat is a measurement that shows you the gold portion in an alloy out of 24 parts. It is a unit of purity. The higher the karat number is, the more gold there is and less of the other metals. Knowing the number of karats is critical in calculating the gold content on your own. If your jewelry piece is 14-karat gold, you need to divide the 14 by the number 24. You will get .583, which means your gold is 58.3% pure gold. But keep in mind that pure gold does not necessarily mean better jewelry. It means more pure, worth more money, and more expensive. The more alloy metals your jewelry contains, the stronger it is. Some wearers prefer lower-karat gold jewelry items since 24-karat gold can be soft and very malleable, and not as durable. Ut lower karat gold items are not tarnish-resistant and do not cost as much as higher karat jewelry. The most common gold purity levels are 10-karat, 14-karat, 18-karat, and 24-karat. Each level offers its range of advantages and disadvantages. They vary in hardness, durability, and risk of contributing to skin irritation. Among the four most common gold purity levels, 10-karat is the most durable but has the lowest gold content. 18-karat is the purest form that manufacturers usually use for engagement rings and other jewelry items. 10-karat gold is affordable and more durable than other types of gold. But they come in pale yellow color and are more likely to trigger allergic reactions. It is 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy. Jewelers use this widely in earrings and other affordable jewelry items. But it is not a popular metal for fine jewelry and engagement rings. 14-karat gold is an excellent combination of purity, durability, and value for money. It consists of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy and is popular in gold rings and other wearable jewelry items. It has a rich color with a classic gold appearance that most customers look for in rings and other jewelry. Its color looks slightly less saturated and intense than 18-karat gold. It is why 14-karat gold is excellent for customers looking for gold jewelry that is not overly yellow. 18-karat gold is as pure as possible while still being practical. But it is expensive and vulnerable to scratches. It consists of 75% pure gold and 25% alloy. This type of gold is usually the purest form of gold for rings, watches, and other wearable jewelry. It has a rich, yellow appearance that makes it an attractive metal for engagement rings and other jewelry pieces. It is perfect for customers looking for gold jewelry that is as pure as possible. Unlike what many believe, jewelers do not use pure gold or 24-karat gold because of many reasons: Pure gold is incredibly soft and malleable. It bends and warps quickly, making it a poor-quality metal for jewelry. Jewelers prefer mixing it with other metals to make it more durable. It is also vulnerable to scratches, meaning it does not take long for pure gold jewelry to become unattractive and scuffed. Pure gold is also very bright. It gives off more of an orange color than the yellow color that people usually associate with gold. For this reason, it is generally unattractive to use as a metal for rings, watches, and other gold items. 24-karat gold is also costly. It costs much more to produce jewelry using this metal