Mae West once said, “I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.”
We wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment (and we bet you do too!) That said, have you ever stopped to wonder what Mae actually means when she says the word ‘carat?’ And more importantly, does this word differ from the term ‘karat?’
If so, you’re in luck, because in today’s article we’re going to pit karat vs. carat and highlight all the major differences between the two.
Let’s get started…
Karat vs. Carat: What Is the Difference?
| Karat | Carat |
| A unit of measurement used to indicate the quantity of pure gold in a particular accessory. | A unit of measurement typically used to determine a gemstone’s size/weight. |
| The higher the karat level of a jewellery item, the more expensive it will be. | The bigger the gem’s carat size, the more expensive the stone will be. |
1) Definition
The simplest way to distinguish the two is to remember that the word ‘karat’ deals with gold and the term ‘carat’ deals with gemstones. Because of this, some individuals like to refer to these two groups as karat gold vs. carat diamond. Mentioned below is some more information about each term.
• Karat
Believe it or not, pure gold is quite soft. It is, therefore, typically combined with stronger metals before being molded into various fine jewellery items. Interestingly, these pieces are valued and marketed differently based on the amount of pure gold present within them.
How do we find out this information you ask? With the help of the karat, of course!
This term refers to the unit of measurement used to indicate the quantity of pure gold in a particular accessory. Here, more the percentage of pure gold in a jewellery item, the higher its karat level will be. In most cases, 14k gold is considered to have the least amount of pure gold, whereas, 24k gold is made almost entirely of the metal. Mentioned below is a little more information about the different gold karat levels:
1. 14 Karat Gold
Looking for an everyday jewellery piece? An expert would likely recommend a 14k gold jewellery item to you. This is mainly because 14k gold features only 58.3% pure gold, thus making it more durable than its purer (18k and 24k) counterparts.
2. 18 Karat Gold
Constituting about 75% pure gold, the pieces created with 18k gold are undoubtedly more vibrant than the previously-mentioned variant. What’s more, because of their distinct lack of other metals, these accessories are less likely to cause allergic reactions. This makes it a fantastic choice for anyone with sensitive skin who still wants to wear this precious metal.
Having said the above, it’s worth noting here that 18k gold is slightly softer than 14k gold and is more likely to get scratched or dented if dealt a hard blow.
3. 24 Karat Gold
This metal is the most vibrant of the lot and contains about 99.9% pure gold. Interestingly, only yellow gold features this purity level and it is impossible to find 24k rose or white gold in the market today. This is because their colours are a result of the addition of tougher metals (like palladium and copper) to pure gold.
24-karat gold is the most expensive and least durable of the lot. And as such, it is usually reserved for special occasions.
• Carat
A ‘carat’ is a type of measurement typically used to determine a gemstone’s size or weight. Here, 1 metric carat equals 200 milligrams. Each carat can be further divided into 100 ‘points’ to ensure conclusive measurements.
In terms of descriptions, jewellers tend to describe gems that weigh less than 1 carat by their ‘points’ alone. On the flip side, they usually express stones over 1 carat in terms of ‘carats and decimals.’
2) Impact on Price
• Karat
Here, the higher the karat level of a jewellery item, the more expensive it will be.
• Carat
Provided every other C (colour, clarity and cut) remains the same, the change in the carat weight of a gemstone can drastically impact its price. Needless to say, the bigger the carat size is here, the more expensive the stone will be.
Did You Know?
That both words – ‘carat’ and ‘karat’ were actually derived from the same Greek term used to describe the carob bean.
Also Read: What's the Difference Between White and Yellow Gold?
Gold Fineness Karat vs. Carat: What Is the Difference?
As touched upon before, the term ‘karat’ refers to the purity of gold while the term ‘carat’ deals with a gemstone’s size/weight.
Gold fineness, on the other hand, is something completely different. Unlike the karat, which is usually displayed in percentages, fineness indicates the purity of the metal in parts per 1000. This essentially means that if an alloy is divided into 1000 parts, the gold fineness will determine how many of those parts are actually pure gold. Common numbers here include 375, 585 and 750.
Interestingly, when you look at a particular metal in terms of its fineness, what may be considered gold in one country, may be seen as regular metal in another. For instance, an accessory with a fineness number of 333 could be considered gold in Germany. However, other countries like Lithuania may note it down as a simple metal because the jewellery item’s fineness number is too low.
Now that you know everything there is to know about carat vs. karat, let’s move on to the next question.
What Should You Consider When Picking a Karat and Carat?
• Karat
1. Budget
As a general rule of thumb, your budget should determine the karat level you choose. If you’re working with a tight budget, for example, we highly recommend opting for a more affordable karat level like a 14 or 18 karat accessory. Alternatively, if money is not an issue, you could opt for the premium 24k gold piece of jewellery.
2. Wearability
Do you want to wear your piece daily or do you want to reserve it for special occasions? If it’s the former, we suggest going for a 14k gold piece as that’s the most durable of the bunch. On the other hand, if your answer is the latter, then an 18k or 24k gold piece should do just fine.
3. Colour
Keep your preferred metal colour in mind before selecting your piece. If you’re interested in white or rose gold, you’ll have to choose a lower karat level.
• Carat
1. The 4Cs
Of course, a diamond’s carat weight isn’t the only thing that determines its beauty. Its cut, clarity and colour are also equally important. Hence, before you start shopping divide your budget between all 4Cs of diamond and choose a carat weight based on the amount allocated to the same.
2. Magic Sizes
For the unaware, the term ‘magic size’ indicates specific weight boundaries (0.50 ct, 0.75 ct, 1.00 ct, 2.00 ct, 5.00 ct) beyond which there is a huge increase in price per carat. Take, for example, a gemstone that weighs 0.98 ct and one that weighs 1.02 ct. Visually, the 0.4-point difference between the two is negligible. However, in terms of price, the difference is quite large. This is simply because the second gem is slightly over the magic ‘1-carat’ mark.
Considering the above, if you’re working with a tight budget, opting for a carat weight that’s slightly below the magic size could save you a lot of money.
3. The Jewellery Style
While there’s no hard or fast rule about the same, some jewellery styles tend to look better with larger gemstones. The solitaire style is a great example of this. This is simply because this style tends to spotlight the beauty of the gem itself. As such, if you’re in the market for a similar style consider placing more emphasis on the carat weight of the stone.
Want to treat yourself to fine gemstone jewellery but don’t know where to start your search? Cheque out the Angara jewellery collection today.
