In the world of fine jewellery, the two most commonly used words are Karat and Carat !
Let us understand what they stand for:
KARAT (K) – Karat signifies the proportion of gold in an alloy that is used to make jewellery. Fine gold is too soft to be used, hence it is mixed with other metals to form an alloy. This alloy is divided into 24 parts and the purity of gold in this alloy is denoted by karat. For example 14K gold means 14 parts of gold out of 24 parts of alloy. The same stands for 18K, 22K and so on. Fine gold means 24 K gold. The more the purity of gold in jewellery, the higher the price.
CARAT (Ct.) – Carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones. 1 carat equals to 0.20 grams. A carat is divided into points where 1 carat is equal to 100 points. For example, half carat diamond means 50 point diamond or 0.50 ct. diamond.
Large diamonds are rarer and so the price increases along with the increase in carat weight. Small diamonds set in a piece of jewellery are weighed collectively together. This is called total carat weight. A single 2 carat diamond is way more costly than 2 carat total weight of smaller diamonds. Carat weight does not necessarily denote size of diamond. Diamonds of same carat weight may differ in size due to their cutting. If one is cut deeper than the other, then both will differ in size. That is why you can find two 1 carat diamonds having different sizes.
In the UK and some other parts of world , the spelling carat is used for both gemstone weight and gold purity, but in the US and other parts, carat and karat are used as per their meanings stated above. Hence it is always good to know the difference between the two.
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