The concept of understanding the Gold purity may seem hard and confusing!
This will give you the general understanding of the gold purity concept.
If curiosity strikes, feel free to contact us.
We at Dhara jewellers feel delighted to answer your question & serve.
Gold Jewellery’s purity are measured in Karats (K). Which indicated the net amount of gold on a specific ornament. The Gold in nature at purest form is too soft for jewellery. So soft that you can bite the Gold bar and it retains dent of the teeth. To give gold its strength other materials are mixed with gold to create a strong alloy. Such as Copper, Silver, Zinc etc.
Diffrent Mixing Ratios janmake different colour of gold such as: if more copper is introduced then it takes the copper colour hint and make it Rose Gold. Like wise, if more silver is introduced then it takes the hint of silver colour and turning it into Silver Gold. (Looks like Platinium)
This translate into the amount of pure Gold in an ornament is derived from the purity measurement.
For example: A Pendent that weights for 6.450 gram with the purity of 18K has a net amount of pure gold, that is 6.450 x 75 / 100 = 4.838 gram
A 6.450 gram 18K pendent has 4.838 gram of pure / fine Gold.
There are limited variety of Karat that is approved by the government for us to manufacture. Anything forged beyond this following karat is not approved by the government. Hence not getting the Hall Mark and BSI, Bureau of Indian Standard certification.
24K (karat) : Is the purest form of gold and is too soft for jewellery manufacturing. This has 99.9% of Gold.
22K (karat) : Most suitable for simple jewellery. Mixed Small amount of other material to add strength to the jewellery. This has 91.6% of Gold
18K (karat) : Most suitable for complex jewellery. Other materials are added to provide strength. This has 75% of Gold
14K (karat) : Most toughest, durable and affordable. Fair amount of other material are mixed to give exceptional strength. This has 58.3% of Gold.
10K (karat) : Sutable for forging utensils or other big ornaments. This is the least pure and the cheapest. This has 41.7% of Gold.