Buying gold has become an investment today; protects people against losses on their other assets and can offer security in times of crisis. Did you know that the value of gold will only increase as time goes by? It’s an appreciative asset and has proven to be a safe haven for people, especially during difficult times.
How to Measure Gold’s Purity
With a lot of available gold in the market today, how can you be sure you are indeed buying pure gold? Of course, as a wise buyer, you want to ensure that you are investing your money properly. Do you understand gold purity? Ornaments and jewelry made of gold can’t possibly be made of 100 percent pure gold because in its rawest and purest form, gold is very soft and delicate. It is malleable in its pure state. To strengthen gold and to enhance its appearance, other metals or fillers are added to it.
Karat is a measurement used to gauge the purity of precious metals like gold; the higher the karat is, the more gold it contains.
- 24-karat gold
It is by far the purest gold one can buy. It contains 99.99% gold and 0.01% other metals or fillers. And since it is almost pure gold, it is also the most expensive gold you could ever buy. It has a distinct bright yellow color. Due to the malleability of gold, 24-k gold is not suited for regular types of jewelry. However, there are many 24-k Chinese gold being sold in the market today. 24-k gold is mostly used in electronics and medical apparatuses.
- 21-karat gold
21-k gold contains 87.5% pure gold and 12.5% other metals or fillers. It possesses the malleability characteristic of gold, but it is harder than the purest form of the precious metal. 21-k gold is the most popular form of gold used in jewelry especially in India, Asia and the Middle East.
- 18-karat gold
The 18-k gold contains 75% of pure gold and 25% of other metals or fillers. This form of gold is more common in Italy and Portugal. 18-k gold is less malleable compared to 21-k and 24-k gold. It has a rich, yellow color and is the most suitable form of gold to use for rings and watches.
- 14-karat gold
14-karat gold contains 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% other metals or fillers. This form of gold is commonly found in America and most countries in Europe. It is less malleable and more durable. If you want a jewelry that is still in the form of gold yet the yellow color is not too bright, then 14-k gold jewelry is a great option. The only disadvantage of this form of gold is that it could trigger skin allergies or irritation because of the higher content of alloy and other metals.
- 10-karat gold
10-karat gold contains 41.7% pure gold and 58.3% other metals or fillers. This is by far the most durable and most affordable form of gold. 10-k gold is the most common in North America. Due to the low gold content, it has a pale yellow color and might trigger metal allergies.
You can also check the gold’s purity by looking at the jeweler’s identification mark. The jewelry shop will put its mark on it to ensure the item is authentic and they are a certified jeweler.