You've no doubt read countless articles about the price of gold expressed in "x dollars per ounce", you own a gold ring or other gold jewelry, or you've bought/are planning to buy a diamond ring, but do you really understand Actually, what exactly are you buying? What is the difference between one troy ounce of gold and one (regular) ounce? What is the difference between 18-karat and 10-karat gold? What's the difference between a 0.75 carat diamond and a 1 carat diamond? Let me explain.

Definition of "karat"

This term is used to describe the unit of measurement of the gold content (i.e. % gold content) of a piece of jewelry, coin or bar according to the table below.

Gold is often combined with "filler metals" such as silver, palladium, platinum, nickel and even copper to reduce the softness of pure 24 karat. Gold that includes some silver, platinum or palladium is called "white" and will have a higher karat count, while the presence of nickel will result in a slightly lower karat count. Copper is used to increase the wear resistance of gold and give it a golden pink hue. Below is a table of the number of carats corresponding to certain gold purity levels, as well as the "fineness" used in some countries, such as Italy.

In some countries, "karat" and "carat" are used almost interchangeably, although strictly speaking the correct meanings are given in this article, where "carat" refers to the weight of the gemstone (see below). When talking about the weight of a product made of gold, silver or other precious metals, they use troy ounces, as below, kilograms or metric tons to designate it.

100% pure gold is considered to be 24 karat, so if something is made from 24 karat gold, it will be a pure metal, no matter the size of the item... Gold is a relatively soft metal, and high-grade gold is easily damaged deterioration, so as such, 24k metal is usually reserved for display or ceremonial purposes, such as in this photo of me and “my” 100kg pure gold (99.99999%) Canadian Maple Leaf coin. , which is now worth over $4,500,000! (100 kg x 32.1507466 troy ounces x $1400 per troy ounce).

Lorimer Wilson with the world's first 100-kilogram coin made of 0.99999 fine gold, with a face value of $1 million.

The coin was produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.

By law, all jewelry must be hallmarked so that consumers know what quality of gold was used in its production. Jewelry made in North America typically varies in carat count (10K, 14K, etc.), while Italian pieces are "fine" (eg, 417, 583, etc.). Most retail gold items range from 9 to 18 karats. The minimum number of carats for items sold as jewelery in the US is 10. In the UK, 9 carat gold is more common.

This number - 24 - may have been originally chosen to mark pure gold, since it can easily be divided without remainder into 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12. Thus, we can talk about 50% purity gold (12 carats), gold, two-thirds pure (16 karat), and so on. Thus, 9-karat gold will be three-eighths pure, and 18-karat gold will be six-eighths (three-quarters) pure.

Definition of a "troy" ounce

The troy ounce (ozt) is an imperial unit most often used to estimate the weight and thus the value of precious metals. One troy ounce equals 1.09714 (9.714% more) avoirdupois ounces, and one kilogram consists of 32.1507466 troy ounces. Please consider the difference between a regular ounce and a troy ounce when purchasing small quantities of gold/silver.

Definition of "carat"

This term is used to describe a unit of weight of a gemstone, including diamonds, where 1 carat equals 200 milligrams, or one-fifth of a gram. Smaller diamonds are often measured in units rather than carats, where 100 units equal one carat (that is, each unit is 0.01, or one hundredth, of a carat).

Origin of the word "karat"

The word "carat" originates from the Greek "keration", meaning the fruit of the carob tree. The seeds of this tree were the same size, so they became a unit of measure for the weight of precious stones. Since the average tree seed weighs 200 milligrams, hence the weight of one carat is 200 milligrams.

Abbreviation of carat

The abbreviation "ct" is used to abbreviate carat and refers to the weight of a single diamond. The abbreviation "ct TW" stands for Total Carat Weight and is used to express the total weight of multiple diamonds used in a piece of jewelry.

Weight and size in carats

Carats are used to measure the weight of other gemstones, but different stones of the same weight are not always the same size because some are denser than others, meaning they pack more weight into less space.

Two diamonds of the same carat weight can be worth very differently depending on other factors (such as cut, color and clarity). When determining carat weight, it is important to know who you are dealing with.

As the carat size increases, the price of a diamond increases greatly. Why? Because the larger the diamond, the rarer it is. One in a million rough diamonds mined is large enough to end up as a finished 1-carat diamond, so as the carat weight increases, not only does the total value increase, but so does the price per carat.

Conclusion

You now have a better understanding of the meaning of the word carat in its various uses (I can only assume that you were already aware of the meaning of the similar word "carrot") and the difference between a troy ounce and just an "ounce", so you will never You will get into trouble reading or thinking about purchasing any product that (often inaccurately) uses these terms.

Gold is one of the most expensive metals on the planet. And, like all precious metals, it is considered very rare, despite the fact that it is found everywhere in small quantities. The proportion of finds in water, earth, stone, sand or ore is very small. For example, to get 1 gram of pure gold, you have to process at least 1 ton of ore. But it's worth it - the unique properties of this metal, such as the absence of corrosion and minimal reactions of interaction with other elements, make it almost eternal.

People say that eternal metal is for eternal relationships. An excellent argument for giving preference to this particular metal when choosing wedding rings.

Gold is very soft. It melts at a temperature of only 1063.4° C. It is practically plasticine. Just imagine, just 28.3 grams (1 ounce) is enough to produce a wire five kilometers long or the thinnest blanket with an area of ​​9.3 square kilometers!

It is logical that using it in its pure form for the production of jewelry is extremely impractical. In order to give gold the necessary strength, it is mixed with other, stronger metals. Impurities of metals involved in the alloy are called alloys. Depending on the amount of ligature, the gold alloy can acquire familiar shades of yellow, red or white.

Carats and fineness

Traditionally, the purity of gold is measured in karats. 1 carat is equal to 1/24 of the alloy weight. 24 carat gold (24K) is pure, without any impurities. To change the quality characteristics of gold, alloys with impurities are made for various purposes (for example, to increase hardness). Thus, 18-karat gold (18K) means that the alloy contains 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of impurities.

In Russia, the metric system is adopted: the purity of gold is measured by its fineness. The fineness ranges from 0 to 1000 and shows the gold content in parts per thousand. Gold of 999.96 purity is considered “virtually pure”; this is exactly the purity it comes in bars. Gold of 999.99 purity is extremely expensive to obtain and is used only in chemistry. The most popular samples of gold products are: 375, 500, 585, 750 and 958.

Gold color

Pure gold always has a yellow color, but the color of the alloy can change depending on the amount of impurity. Typically, jewelry gold contains copper, zinc, silver and nickel. Depending on what metal is used as an additive, this will be the color of the metal. If you decide to make custom wedding rings, then it will be useful for you to know what metals will be present in your alloy.

It is difficult to find a country on the world map in which gold is not valued, because various models of jewelry, parts for electrical appliances, bank bars, commemorative coins and even medications are made from this metal. But aurum in all these products, with the exception of ingots, is present in combination with other metals, which deprive the gold itself of its original hyperplasticity and softness. The presence of impurities in the alloy led to the development of a system of criteria for assessing the authenticity of gold. We are talking about carat and metric standards. Many people, especially those who live in Russia and post-Soviet countries, do not know how to convert carats into samples and vice versa. For this reason, the question often arises about what standard is 18 karat gold.

18k gold engagement rings

How to translate?

In the metric system, the amount of pure gold in a kilogram of alloy is expressed in grams, which can also be converted into percentages. For example, a combination of metals with a purity of 585, which is in demand among jewelers, contains at least 585 grams, or 58.5% aurum. If you subtract the number 585 from 1000 (the number of grams in one kilogram), you can get the amount of impurities of other metals that make the alloy more wear-resistant and durable.

In the carat system of samples, the main unit for assessing the authenticity of aurum is the carat - a unit of measurement of the purity of the precious component. The karat system of samples consists of the following markings: 24, 18, 14, 12, 9, 8, where the number 24 corresponds to the standard 999. Knowing this nuance allows you to correctly convert the units of measurement of metal purity into grams. To do this, you should take note of the formula that looks like this: 24/1000 = X/Y. In this case, X is the number of carats, and Y is the fineness indicator. So, if you need to find out how much pure aurum a raw material with a value of 18 carats contains, you need to perform several mathematical operations using the following formula: Y=1000*18/24=750.

Hallmark 750, which 18k gold has, is included in the metric hallmark system of the Russian Federation. What are the features of such a metal alloy?

Marking 750

If a piece of aurum jewelry is stamped with the number 750, this will mean that the metal alloy from which it is made consists of 750 out of 1000 units of a precious component.

18-karat gold can exist in different variations, depending on the composition of the alloy:

1. Red metal: 750 grams of aurum, 210 - copper, 40 - silver.
2. Pink: 750 grams - gold, 125 - copper, 125 - silver.
3. Yellow: 750 grams - aurum, 170 - silver and 80 - copper.
4. White: 750 grams of gold, 50 of silver and 200 of palladium.

The high quality alloy is ideal for making jewelry. Gold items valued at 18 units are an indispensable attribute of luxury. In addition, the metal goes well with precious stones, which are used in bracelets, wedding rings, earrings and other accessories.

The advantages of products marked 750 include the fact that they are luxury jewelry. The alloy, which is 75% precious, is the raw material for the production of jewelry sold under such famous brands as Tiffany, Bulgari, Cartier, etc. Many of these products are made by hand, and in a single copy, so their cost is impressive.

We should not forget about the disadvantages of such jewelry. It is known that the more aurum contained in the raw materials for the production of jewelry, the less wear-resistant it will be. The reason for this phenomenon is simple - in its natural form gold, of which 75% in the described combination, is very soft and flexible. Therefore, jewelry, in which this metal significantly predominates, requires careful handling, otherwise they will become deformed or scratched.

As for the price of such an alloy, it will differ markedly from that of classic gold marked 585. Thus, in Russia, 1 gram of 18-karat metal in jewelry will cost at least 4,500 rubles. This price can be 500-1500 rubles more, especially if we are talking about a complex product that requires high professionalism of a jeweler.

If we are talking about handing over jewelry to a pawnshop, then the price in this case will be significantly lower (almost 2-3 times). In Russia, pawnshops accept products and scrap from the alloy with a value of 18 carats for 1800-2000 rubles per 1 gram.

It is worth purchasing premium jewelry only in large and well-known jewelry stores, which carefully take care of their impeccable reputation and sell customers products of ideal quality.

It is a digital designation (stamp) showing its pure content in a piece of jewelry. Its definition and branding is carried out by special control institutions. There is, however, also such a concept as carat. What does it mean? For example, 18 carat gold - what standard will be determined for such jewelry? Let's try to understand this issue.

18 karat gold - what is the standard of jewelry?

So, more details. Many countries measure the gold content of precious alloys in karats. And this system has been used for quite a long time. Pure gold, according to it, is equal to 24 carats. What about other options? For example, you are interested in 18 carat gold - what grade is this jewelry? Everything is very simple. This is 750 metric proof. Such products contain 75% pure gold.

In general, the number of samples existing in the world amounts to dozens. But the main two systems are metric and carat. On the territory of the Russian Federation, 999, 958, 750, 585, 500 and 375 samples were accepted. There is also sample 583. She was very popular in the USSR.

Gold quality

Next point. When wondering about 18 carat gold products, what standard they correspond to, do not forget about their quality. That is, pure precious metal is, of course, good. However, it is even more expensive and less durable. Alloying with other metals is often used in jewelry. The color and durability of such products have much more fans than the quality of products made from pure gold. 18 carats is, as mentioned above, 75% precious metal (750 standard).

Selection rate

In general, as far as demand is concerned, the situation is ambiguous. In Europe, 18-karat gold products have been considered the norm for quite some time. What sample is not at all important for the consumer. Buyers are quite satisfied with the rich yellow color and attractive appearance. Women often do not part with such jewelry even on the beach. In a word, they are worn like a second skin. The popularity is well justified. Although, no less common, for example, in the USA is (14 carats). By the way, it is in the USA that the sale of jewelry with a carat value of less than 10 is prohibited. In many other countries, consumers are offered gold jewelry of 8 and 9 carats.

be careful

When making a purchase, do not forget to be vigilant. Do you want to purchase 18 carat gold jewelry? What kind of test is this - you already know. Look for the "18k" or "750" markings on the back of the product. Always look at the carat value. As a rule, if it is indicated on the jewelry, there should also be a manufacturer’s mark. This guarantees the authenticity of the marking. The designation of the country of origin is also required. Trying is not enough. A stamp with the creator's distinctive trademark assures the buyer that they are purchasing real jewelry.

Price

So, you are holding 18 karat gold in your hands. What kind of test is very clear. All that remains is to figure out the cost. Of course, it depends not only on the carat, but also on the weight, and on the complexity of the work and design. You will understand how many grams of gold are in the product by the markings. But you shouldn’t rely on this alone when determining the price. The work done in making the jewelry is also taken into account.

For additional comfort, craftsmen can also use special production methods. This allows you to make certain parts of products more flexible and durable. Of course, the better the quality of the decoration, the higher its cost will be. This is justified - after all, you will wear it for a long time, getting great pleasure from it. Well, with proper care, the product will, of course, last for more than one generation. Complex details, special clasps, precious stones - all this, of course, affects the price.

Gold jewelry is most often made using machines. The cost may also increase due to additional hand finishing or engraving. Such operations can be carried out at a variety of prices. Each part may have its own characteristics that make it unique. On average, the price per gram of 18-karat gold today is about 4,500 rubles.

Caring for your jewelry

And finally. Gold is a very reliable, strong and durable metal. Anyone who knows 18 carat (what standard it is) most often chooses this option when purchasing jewelry. However, we must not forget about proper care for them. Products must be kept safe and clean.

You should not wear jewelry during rough work or in contact with aggressive chemicals. To protect them from scratches, store each product in a separate box. From time to time, check the fastening of the stones, the strength of the links and fasteners. If you notice the slightest damage, immediately seek help from a jeweler.

In principle, 750 gold is exactly what you need. Especially if you want to settle on a beautiful, reliable and fairly affordable product.

Gold and products made from it are now more popular than ever. There is probably no country in the world where this precious metal is not known and used. At one time, gold was not only jewelry, but also played the role of money in purchase and sale transactions.

Various states, independently or united, such as in Europe, adopted their own measure of the weight or volume of gold, as well as its quality. This is how the modern concept of karat appeared. Thus, in the foreign system, 18-karat gold is of high quality. What standard corresponds to it in the former countries of the Soviet Union? How to convert samples into carats of gold known to everyone in the world? To do this, you need to study two systems: metric and carat.

Metric system

This system shows the percentage of pure gold in jewelry. For example, the 585th alloy has 58.5 percent precious metal and 41 and a half percent additives of other metals.

Products made from pure gold, due to the natural softness of the metal, are not durable and will last a short time. Therefore, jewelers have to add impurities to the alloy to make the jewelry more durable.

The ligature in yellow metal products may contain mixtures of copper, nickel, silver, or palladium. Due to ligature additives, products come in different shades: white, yellow, pink and even black. In the post-Soviet space, the most common sample is 585. Nowadays 18 carat gold (750 standard) is becoming increasingly popular, despite the fact that its price is high. The 583 standard, known in the USSR, is actually no different from the 585, but is now practically not used, since in 1995 it was replaced with a higher quality one. A significant disadvantage of this test is its unpopularity in Europe.

Existing gold samples in Russia and the type of their mark.

Most often, jewelers use 585 standard to make jewelry. 18 carat gold, or 750 in our opinion, is suitable for creating not just jewelry, but, one might say, works of jewelry art. In this case, it is no longer the percentage of pure precious metal that is valuable, but the work of the jeweler and the complexity of the product.

18 karat gold, which is produced abroad, is different from our products, which have 750 written on the hallmark.

The alloy ligature used in the manufacture of jewelry in many European countries contains a larger amount of silver, while ours contains more copper. Therefore, European gold has a yellow color, which, according to many, is a more noble color. And domestic metal is redder. Moreover, the product produced by us is more durable.

In the countries of the Vienna Convention (Germany, Austria) and the countries of the former USSR, the metric system described above is adopted. Some European countries and America use the karate system. All samples have their equivalent in carats.

Carat system

Carat is a unit of measurement for the purity of an alloy. 1 carat of gold is a measure of the same thing as a sample; it reflects the proportion of precious metal in the alloy. Therefore, the question of how many grams is is not relevant in relation to gold, but is only suitable for determining the mass of precious and semi-precious stones.

On foreign jewelry, the stamp contains information about the fineness, but only expressed in carats. The International Carat System shows the weight fraction of the precious metal in the alloy in 24 weight units.

Location of the mark with the carat value of the product.

Pure gold in the metric system is an alloy containing 99.9% precious metal; in the karat system it is 24K.

Just like the denomination numbers in the metric system, the carat of a precious metal displays information about the amount of yellow metal in the alloy. Thus, 9 carat gold consists of 9 shares (karats) and 15 shares of alloy materials. Which sample corresponds to this value? This alloy contains 37.5% gold, which corresponds to our 375 standard.

This image clearly shows the amount of pure gold in products of different carats.

The jewelry industry of mainland Europe uses 14 and 18 carat gold most of all, but which standard seduces the British? They prefer 9K. In Portugal you can find jewelry with a unique carat value of 19.2 carats. In the USA, 10 carat is in use and which of the two is more popular? The championship belongs to 10-carat. The countries of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and India traditionally produce jewelry in 22 carats, sometimes 23K. In Hong Kong and China, almost 24K gold is popular.

Formula for converting metric standards to the carat system

So, this ratio looks like this: 24: 1000 = X: Y, where Y is metric. X - carat.

Conversely, metric is calculated as: Y = 1000 * X: 24.

10 carat gold is the most common in the USA; what standard it corresponds to in our country can be easily calculated using the same formula. So, 10 Carat is Y = 1000 * 10: 24 = 416.

Thus, 10 carat gold corresponds to 416 standard, but we do not produce such products.

Correlation of gold samples in different systems.

• 100% alloy is 24 Karat, which corresponds to 999 fineness;
• 75% of the yellow metal in the alloy is 18 Karat, which is identical to the 750 standard;
• 58.5% in the alloy - 14 Karat and equal to 585;
• 50% in the alloy is 12 Karat and, accordingly, 500 standard;
• 37.5% in the alloy is 9 Carats and, accordingly, 375;
• 33.3% in the alloy is 8 carats and 333 in the metric system.

24 and 18 karat gold belongs to the high-grade group, 12 and 14K jewelry belongs to the middle group, 8 and 9 karat gold belongs to the low-grade group.

Color options for rings of various samples.

A higher percentage of precious metal (or carat value) in jewelry makes it appear more vibrant in color and increases the price.

Distinguish gilding

Gold jewelry from countries such as Italy, Turkey, China, Switzerland often does not meet the Russian standard, that is, they do not always have the required quality. This often happens because they are imported into the Russian Federation outside of customs control, and therefore the assay authorities do not check such jewelry.

According to statistics, more than 72% of imported gold is fake, so you need to be careful and attentive when choosing jewelry. It must be remembered that foreign gold (even if it is genuine) has differences from locally produced gold in composition and color, and is also less durable. The shade is in most cases white or yellow, since the products contain a lower percentage of copper in the alloy. You also need to be wary of the fact that 18-karat white gold is often replaced with cheaper silver.