Gold will never be left without attention - luxurious jewelry will be a great gift, and investing in this metal will be profitable, because its value is growing. For gold jewelry, special designations are used - they put a test indicating the content of the precious metal in the alloy. In Russia and the CIS countries, the metric system operates, and in European countries karat is more common, which can cause difficulties with calculations. But in reality, everything is not so complicated. In the article we will figure out how much 18 carats of gold weigh, which sample corresponds.
What it is?
Many believe that habitual the metric system is the most convenient. It immediately allows you to understand the percentage of gold. If the product has a mark of 750, it means that there is 75% of pure metal, with the designation 585 - 58.5%, similarly with other samples.
In this way, a carat system makes it possible to find out how much pure gold is contained in an alloy. Since the unit of measure expresses the proportion of metal, the question of how many grams this is for gems is inappropriate here.
Numbers from 9 to 24 are used as carats., the last sample is considered the highest and is taken in the calculations for 100%. Physically, the absolute purity of the metal is unattainable, traces of impurities will still be present, therefore, in fact, products marked in this way contain 99.9% of gold. As a rule, these are bank bars that are used as currency. Such material is not suitable for jewelry - it is too soft and quickly deformed.
Taking 24 for 100%, we can assume that the carat is 4.17% of the total mass. After that, it will be easy to find out how many percent of gold is contained in items marked 18 K.This is done as follows: 4.17 times 18 and we get 75% percent. The same calculations can be made with any other breakdown, substituting the desired value.
For those who do not want to spend time on calculations, there is a correspondence table that allows you to quickly correlate the most popular designations of karate and metric systems. From there you can find out that:
- 24 K is 999;
- 18 carats of gold corresponds to 750 samples;
- 14 K in the metric system is marked 585.
Some tables also include a spool system. Lovers of antiques and collectors may encounter it, since it was used in the pre-revolutionary period.
As marking the most common variant is 18 K, but you can also see the abbreviations "kt", "car." and other variations. All of them are identical and mean the same thing, but the letters “KR” guarantee maximum accuracy. The production technology allows an error of 0.5 K, so the product can actually be 17.5 K. But if the mark KR is stamped on the surface after the number 18, there will be exactly the indicated number of carats, not less.
Gold can also have a different shade - white, pink, greenish. Color depends on the ratio of additional components that are present in the composition. They not only give a certain tone, but also add strength to products.
Composition and properties
According to the production technology, 18-carat gold contains 75% of this pure metal. Remain another 25% to the share of impurities. This is a ligature or alloy metals that increase wear resistance:
- copper is the main component in many alloys;
- silver - also often found in the composition;
- palladium - it is added to white gold to give a characteristic shade;
- platinum and nickel are fairly rare components.
The pure color of 18 K gold is bright yellow. If the product has a reddish tint, it means that there is a lot of copper in the alloy, but in the greenish metal it is not at all, but it contains up to 25% silver. Jewelers also use the technique. rhodium - apply a thin layer of rhodium to the surface. This not only gives additional strength, but also allows you to get black gold.
Please note that some people may be allergic to nickel. Although this component is rare and in small quantities in products marked 18 K, irritation at the points of contact of the jewelry with the skin is possible with high sensitivity.
When buying, it is better to study the composition of the product to avoid troubles. And also it is worth considering other important points.
Criterias of choice
Primarily worth make sure that you are buying gold, not gold plated jewelry. The product should be on try and stigma manufacturer - they are usually located on the clasp or on the inside of the jewelry. There are other methods that can help you recognize fraud:
- you can try to scratch an object with a thin needle - if the scratch is darker than the surface, then another metal is hidden under a layer of gilding;
- jewelry darkened after several days of socks also indicate a fake;
- some shops and pawnshops carry out jewelry expertise on order using special reagents, which gives high accuracy checks.
Choose trusted stores that are ready to provide quality certificates for purchase. Remember that 750 gold can not be too cheap - the average price of one gram starts at 2500 rubles.
In jewelry stores, the most common items are marked with 14 and 18 carats (585 and 750 samples). Consider how to choose the best option.
- By appointment. If you are looking for something for everyday wear, pay attention to the marking of 14 K. Such jewelry is more durable, they can withstand light blows, scratches and other influences. 18ct gold items are positioned as accessories for special occasions. They have a pronounced sheen, look spectacular, but require careful handling.
- According to the age. If you are buying a gift for a child, then it is better to dwell on products with low carats. Children do not always handle things with care and can inadvertently damage a fragile decoration.
- At a cost. Gold 585 of sample is cheaper than 750. Also, the presence of precious stones affects the price, the complexity of execution - unusual details, special fasteners. Most of the jewelry is made by an automated method, but some designer products require manual work, so they will be more expensive than others.
- By compatibility. Base gold looks more dull, its color is not so pure and saturated. This is not so noticeable when you have one piece of jewelry, but if you want to assemble a set of different products, make sure that they are of the same carat. For 18 K earrings it is better to choose a pendant or ring with the same marking so that your accessories look organically together.
- By allergy. If products marked 10 or 14 carats cause irritation on the skin, you should try changing them to 18 carat gold. Such alloys are cleaner, they contain less nickel, which will allow you to wear beautiful accessories without fear. However, if you have very sensitive skin, you will have to look for jewelry marked “nickel free”.
Gold 750 can have different shades, which is important when choosing.
- Classical yellow metal is most often used for the manufacture of wedding rings, luxury watches. This shade goes well with any gemstone and looks spectacular on dark skin.
- Red gold is more resistant to wear due to the large amount of copper in the composition. From it you can create unusual author's products with complex patterns or use for everyday jewelry.
- White gold is considered to be elite and perfectly emphasizes the beauty of diamonds. However, nickel is present in the composition, which can cause allergies.
- Pink the shade is one of the most fashionable, it is preferred by many jewelry houses that focus on the luxury market segment.
- Metal with greenish it is infrequently used due to its fragility due to its fragility, but such ornaments look unusual.
- Black gold appeared relatively recently, but has already become popular. It is durable and does not lose its luster.
You can choose a shade according to the color of the skin or the color scheme that prevails in your wardrobe, so that you can easily make a set with gold accessories for any occasion.
Care Tips
There are several recommendations that can help extend the life of 18K gold items:
- remove jewelry if you plan to visit the gym or pool;
- keep accessories in a box with soft upholstery in a dry place;
- do not use abrasive cleaners for leaving;
- If the clasp or other element breaks, return the product to a reputable workshop with a good reputation.
With careful handling and proper care, gold can serve its owners for a long time and be passed on from generation to generation as a family heirloom.
The following video will help you understand the samples of gold products, as well as the color of jewelry.