The carat is one of the most important terms in the world of jewelry. Yet, this word is often misused. Purity, quality, mass, or even resistance—what exactly does this technical term mean? But why is it essential to differentiate between the carat of a gemstone and the carat of gold? As you may have guessed, the carat has a dual meaning. To help you understand this better, in the rest of this article, we will answer the question: what is a carat?
What is a carat for a gemstone?
In jewelry, the carat is a unit of measurement used to define the weight of a gemstone. The measurement must therefore be taken in a suitable area. The space must be isolated and free from vibrations, and a very precise scale capable of measuring to one-hundredth of a gram is required. This measurement is a crucial factor in determining the price of the stone and, consequently, the piece of jewelry. The mass will inevitably influence the final price. Note that the word "carat" can also be written as "ct." And if you are looking for jewelry set with precious stones, you will be delighted to discover the Messika Move necklace in white gold, which features 0.25 carats of diamonds.
What is the purpose of the carat in jewelry?
In jewelry, it's a word constantly used by gemologists. Since this professional specializes in semi-precious and precious stones, they are familiar with all the gems used in the jewelry industry. Their work involves purchasing the finest stones from various suppliers worldwide, based on the carat weight measurement. A gem's carat weight is one of the criteria that determines its purity and therefore its quality. Furthermore, it's important to know that the carat weight is one of the famous 4Cs of a diamond:
- Carat (C) : The carat is used to measure the weight of diamonds very precisely. It's important to understand that the higher the carat weight, the higher the price of the stone.
- C for clarity (purity) : the purity of a diamond is assessed using a loupe at 10x magnification. The evaluation of this precious stone must be carried out by an expert. They will categorize the diamond as pure if they find no flaws;
- C for color : here it is more a hue than a color. To classify diamonds, a "color" scale is used. It ranges from D, for a very rare colorless stone, to Z for a yellow, brown, or gray diamond;
- cut (C ) refers to the proportions of the stone. It relates to how light reflects off the diamond. Therefore, the cut is what gives the stone its greater brilliance.
The carat of a stone also represents its weight: 1 carat corresponds to 0.20 grams.
What is a carat for a metal?
The carat for a metal like gold corresponds to its fineness. It is its fineness to the thousandth, which represents its quality, or rather its purity.
999/1000 or 24-carat gold
24-karat gold is 99.99% pure gold. This level of purity is rarely used in jewelry making because pure gold is too malleable and therefore too soft. It tends to deform and is not easy to work with to create jewelry.
750/1000 or 18-carat gold
18-karat gold is an alloy containing 75% pure gold. It is 18k gold that offers the best balance between purity, quality, and hardness. The alloy is composed of 75% pure gold and 25% other metals, such as copper, as in the case of rose gold. Furthermore, 18-karat gold is the most widely used quality in leading French jewelry houses because this proportion results in jewelry that is precious, resistant, and durable. You will find this quality in all our jewelry. To discover them, please visit our jewelry store.
585/1000 or 14 ct gold
14-karat gold is a more common quality. It is considered less precious because its gold content is lower (58.5%). Therefore, the higher the karat number, the greater the quantity of pure gold in the alloy.
How can the quality of a metal be verified?
A piece of jewelry made in France by hand, weighing 3 grams or more, must be hallmarked. The hallmark is what allows the quality of a metal to be identified. The hallmark, which guarantees the quality of the precious metal, is applied by customs after the jewelry has been manufactured.
To stamp a piece of jewelry, you need a small chisel and a hammer. That's why you'll usually find the hallmark on the outside of a ring or opposite a gemstone. And to be as thorough as possible, you should know that there's a second hallmark called the "maker's mark." This is the one applied by the workshop or the jeweler who crafted the piece. In other words, if your jewelry has two small marks, these are the official hallmarks that guarantee the quality of your piece.
FAQ
What is a carat of gold?
This corresponds to its fineness in parts per thousand. This refers to its quality (for example, 9-carat gold is 375 parts per thousand). The carat is used to measure the purity of gold.
How is the carat calculated?
9-karat (9K) gold contains 37.5% pure gold, 14K contains 58.5% pure gold, and 18K contains 75% gold. Diamonds are measured differently
1 diamond with 100 points: 1 carat- 1 diamond of 60 points: 0.6 carats
- 1 diamond of 10 points: 0.1 carats
- 1 five-point diamond: 0.05 carats
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