A Jewelry Lover’s Guide to Karat vs Carat

Besides gold, diamonds are one of the most famous gemstones in the world. Coveted by jewelry customers around the globe, there’s nothing like receiving a diamond carat or a gold karat from the one you love.

But you might be wondering: what’s the difference between karat vs carat?

When it comes to the whole carat vs karat argument, it can be hard to tell them apart on your own. Luckily for you, that’s where we come in. Check out our jewelry lover’s guide to karat vs carat below!

What Is a Carat, Anyway?

First of all, the word “carat” is reserved for diamond lovers only. The higher the carat size is, the more pricey the diamond will be. As the carat size continues to increase, the price may rise dramatically too.

Unlike what most people think, carat size isn’t exactly the size of your diamond. Instead, it refers to the overall weight of your diamond. As a matter of the fact, the actual size of the diamond is measured by its diameter, which includes the measurement of its length by width in millimeters.

In a nutshell, your diamond’s carat size will have a major impact on its:

  • Cut
  • Clarity
  • Color

For example, if you are looking for a diamond with a large carat size, you are going to want to invest in a higher color and clarity grade too!

Exactly What Is a Karat?

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s talk about karats. First of all, the word “karat” is used to describe gold jewelry. In addition to this, it’s important to know that real gold jewelry is often a bright yellow color.

When gold is used in jewelry, though, it is often combined with other types of metal to make an alloy. This gives alloy gold jewelry its signature hue and strength. However, the more metals that are melted with gold, the lower its karat value is.

Pro tip: 24 karat is the most refined form of gold jewelry. 

On the other hand, it’s not uncommon to find other forms of jewelry that is made from 14-karat gold and 18-karat gold as well.

As you may already know, the amount of true gold that is in your jewelry can change its appearance. That’s why the tone of lower-quality gold jewelry is typically less yellow than 100% gold jewelry. For instance, a 14-karat yellow gold ring will look much different than an 18-karat yellow gold ring. 

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Still Confused By Karat vs Carat? 

Still feeling confused by the karat vs carat debate?

If you are nodding your head yes, our handy guide should answer any questions you may have. The only hard part will be deciding how to choose the best diamond carat or gold karat jewelry for you!

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