Karat vs Carat

Have you come across the terms Karat and Carat while buying jewellery and wondered what they stand for? They may sound similar but are spelt differently. Karat and Carat are units of measurement in jewellery.

Karat
Karat is a unit of measurement to measure the fineness and the purity of gold. The abbreviation for Karat is ‘K’ as in 24K, 22K etc. Since Pure Gold (24 Karat) is a soft and malleable metal, it is mixed or alloyed with other metals like silver, copper, palladium etc. to increase its strength and make it more durable. The original colour of pure gold is slightly reddish yellow. But when it is alloyed with various metals, different colours can be achieved. For instance, White Gold is a mixture of Gold, nickel, silver, palladium etc. with a rhodium coating. Whereas Rose Gold is a mixture of pure gold and copper. The purity of gold is scaled from 1- 24. 24K is the purest form of gold. 14K gold means it contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy i.e. 58.5% gold, 18K gold has 75% gold and 25% other metals, 22K gold has 91.6% gold. Most countries prefer 18K gold jewellery. But in India, 22K is preferred for jewellery. 24K gold is used to make gold coins and bars.

24 Karat Gold
It is the purest form of gold containing 99.9% of gold. It is naturally yellow coloured and highly valuable as the gold purity and fineness are the highest. Since pure gold is soft, malleable and ductile, it has many uses in Industry and medicine. Since it is a good conductor and shows general resistance to oxidation and corrosion, it is used as electrical connectors in computers, mobiles, and other electrical devices.

22 Karat Gold
It is the next purest form of Gold containing 91.6% of Gold and suitable for making jewellery. In India, most of the wedding jewellery is fabricated in 22K gold. Though it is harder than 24K gold, it is still very soft, and hence not ideal for stone setting and heavily studded jewellery.

18 Karat Gold
It contains 75% of gold and the ideal for making stone studded and diamond jewellery. In most of the countries, jewellery is made in 18 karat gold. It is expensive but cheaper than 24K and 22K gold. It has a slightly dull yellow/golden colour and very easy to recognise.

14 Karat Gold
14 karat gold contains 58.5% gold. It has a warm yellow hue. It is mixed with metals like copper, zinc, and nickel etc. to make it hard and durable. It is more economical and affordable than 18K, 22K and 24K gold.

Carat
Carat is a unit of weight for diamonds, pearls, and other precious stones. The abbreviation for Carat is ‘Ct’. According to the International Metric Carat measuring system, one carat is 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams or one-fifth of a gram. Smaller diamonds are measured in points instead of Carat. There are 100 points in a carat. For example, if a diamond weighs 0.60 carats, it is a 60 point diamond. Whereas, a 0.06 Carat Diamond is a 6 point diamond. Before the modern carat system, early gem traders used a small uniform seed called ‘carob seed’ in their balance scales to weigh precious stones. This seed was considered to be uniform in weight.This is actually not true and gradually 200 mg metric carat was standardised and used worldwide now. The 4C’s of diamond namely- cut, clarity, colour, and carat weight, graded on a scale evaluates the diamond's quality and value. The price of the diamond is often based on the grading reports by the diamond sellers. The most trusted is the GIA – Gemological Institute of America. It is the creator of the 4C’s and the International Diamond Grading System and the world’s most trusted source and the global authority for an unbiased assessment of diamonds. Having a foundational knowledge of the 4 C’s will help you buy the perfect diamond engagement ring.

CUT
The diamonds sparkle and ability to transmit light depends upon the quality of a diamond’s cut, fire, angles, proportions and finishing details. The three types of cut are Shallow cut, Ideal cut, and Deep cut. The diamond's value and final beauty depend on the quality of the cut. Craftsmanship and artistry play a crucial role. The GIA grades Diamond Cut as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor.

COLOUR
Diamond colour is graded in terms of how colourless it is. Chemical impurities or structural defects are responsible for the colour. The GIA grades Diamond Color from D-Z. D is the most colourless and continuing with increasing hue, to the letter Z. These slight colour differences are invisible to the untrained eye but impact the diamond's price and quality. Depending on the colour and intensity of the colour, it may enhance or diminish its value. Some rare, naturally coloured diamonds such as blue and red diamonds are the most precious in the world.

CLARITY
A diamond’s clarity means how clean a diamond is from both internal characteristics called inclusions and external defects called blemishes. The GIA Clarity Scale has 6 categories and 11 grades. FL (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1), VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included 2), VS1 (Very Slightly Included 1), VS2 (Very Slightly Included 2), SI1 (Slightly Included 1), SI2 (Slightly Included 2), I1 (Inclusions 1), I2 (Inclusions 2). Flawless diamonds fetch the highest price.

CARAT WEIGHT
Carat is the weight of a stone and not the size of the diamond. One carat is 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. To measure smaller diamonds, each carat is further divided into 100 points. For instance, a diamond that weighs 0.25 Ct is referred to as a ‘twenty-five pointer’. Diamonds that weigh greater than one carat are expressed in carats and decimals, e.g. 1.08 carat stone can be described as ‘One point oh eight carats’. To make a diamond unique, valuable and beautiful, each of the 4 C’s contributes equally. While buying a diamond, it should be viewed as an organic whole. So, the diamond ring you buy will have a stone weight in carat and gold purity measured in Karat.