There are many terms connected to the diamond jewelry world that you should be aware of if you are in the market for something shiny. CaratsDirect2U’s large diamond education section will be a huge help in your research.
There are however one small thing that you should know right from the start:
The Difference Between A Carat And A Karat
Both are connected to the diamond jewelry world but are two totally different things.
Carat With A C Refers To The Weight Of A Diamond
One carat is equal to 0.007 ounces, or 200 milligrams. The higher the carat value of your diamond, the larger the diamond.
The word carat originated from the Greek word “kerátion” which is a carob seed. Throughout history carob seeds were used to measure gemstones because it was thought that they do not differ much in their mass distribution. This actually is not true.
Karat With A K Refers To The Purity Of The Gold
24 karat is 100% pure gold. You will however not find modern jewelry made with pure gold because it is so soft and malleable and have a bright orange-y color.
The gold used in today’s strong and durable jewelry is alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver and zinc and palladium. 18 karat gold is made up of 75% gold and 25% alloy and 14 karat gold is made up of 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy.
Even though 14 karat gold jewelry pieces is made from a lesser percentage of gold, its strength and rich color makes it a popular choice for diamond engagement and wedding rings.
If you have any questions about loose diamond or diamond jewelry, please contact us at sales@caratsdirect2u.com or 1-800-557-7095.