The Gold Karat Guide: 24K to 9K Explained
A karat mark tells you what fraction of an alloy is gold, out of 24. It is the single number that decides how much metal value a piece holds.
A karat mark is a fraction with 24 on the bottom. 18K means 18 parts gold out of 24, which is 75 percent. 14K means 14 parts out of 24, which is 58.33 percent. That is the whole system, and once you know it you can work out the metal content of any marked piece.
Key takeaways
- Karat measures gold content out of 24. It says nothing about colour or quality of workmanship.
- Yellow, white and rose gold at the same karat contain identical amounts of gold.
- In Canada, the Precious Metals Marking Regulations require the karat number to be in the same proportion to 24 as the article's gold is to pure gold, and set 9 karats as the minimum at which a karat mark may be used.
- Higher karat means more metal value but a softer piece that shows wear faster.
- 14K and 18K are the usual balance for jewellery worn daily.
What Vanhess does and does not do
Vanhess is a jewellery shop in Coquitlam, British Columbia. We sell solid gold jewellery. We do not sell bullion, bars, coins or wafers, we do not buy or broker investments, and we are not financial advisors, tax advisors or a bullion dealer. Everything on this page is general information to help you understand how gold is priced and valued. It is not financial, investment or tax advice. Speak to a licensed advisor or an accountant before making a decision about your money.
Every karat, with the numbers
| Mark | Fraction | Pure gold | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 24/24 | about 100% | Too soft for most jewellery. Used for bullion and some traditional pieces. |
| 22K | 22/24 | 91.67% | Rich colour, still soft. Common in South Asian and Middle Eastern jewellery. |
| 18K | 18/24 | 75.00% | The fine jewellery standard. Strong colour with reasonable durability. |
| 14K | 14/24 | 58.33% | The everyday workhorse in North America. Hard-wearing and good value. |
| 10K | 10/24 | 41.67% | Durable and inexpensive. Paler colour, less than half gold. |
| 9K | 9/24 | 37.50% | The lowest that may be karat marked in Canada. Common in the UK. |
Why colour has nothing to do with karat
This confuses almost everyone. White gold, yellow gold and rose gold at 14K all contain exactly 58.33 percent gold. The difference is the other 41.67 percent. Copper pushes the colour toward red. Silver and palladium push it toward white. Most white gold is also plated with rhodium for a brighter finish, which wears off over years and needs redoing.
Worth knowing
Because colour is set by the alloy and not the gold, a rose gold and a yellow gold chain of the same karat and the same weight are worth exactly the same to a refiner.
Choosing a karat for a piece you will actually wear
The trade-off is hardness against gold content
Pure gold is soft enough to mark with a fingernail. Alloying it with harder metals is what makes jewellery survive daily life, and the more you alloy it, the more durable and the less valuable per gram it becomes.
For a ring worn every day, especially one that takes knocks, 14K is usually the sensible choice. For a piece worn occasionally where colour matters most, 18K gives a noticeably richer tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 14K gold mean?
It means 14 parts out of 24 in the alloy are pure gold, which works out to 58.33 percent. The remaining 41.67 percent is other metals such as copper, silver or zinc, added to make the metal hard enough to wear.
Is 18K gold better than 14K?
It contains more gold, so it holds more metal value per gram and has a richer colour. It is also softer, so it scratches and wears faster. For a ring worn every day, 14K often lasts better. Neither is better in general, they are different trade-offs.
Why is 24K gold not used for most jewellery?
Because it is too soft. Pure gold bends and scratches very easily, so a 24K ring would deform in normal wear and a 24K prong would not hold a stone securely. That is why gold is alloyed for jewellery and left pure for bullion.
What is the lowest karat that can be called gold in Canada?
Under the Precious Metals Marking Regulations, the minimum quality for a gold quality mark is 9 karats. Below that, an article may not carry a karat mark at all.
Read next
Solid gold, plainly made
Pieces where the metal is the largest share of what you pay.
14KClassic Bangle
A plain solid bangle: most of what you pay for is metal you can weigh.
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14KByzantine Emperor Flat Chain
A heavy flat link chain, the classic hold-its-weight piece.
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14KClassic Stacking Band
A plain stacking band with no stones to complicate a resale.
$380.00Vanhess sells gold jewellery. We do not sell bullion, bars or coins, and nothing here is financial or tax advice.