Gold karat is a measurement of the purity or fineness of gold. It indicates the proportion of pure gold in a piece of jewelry or other gold items. The karat system is widely used in the United States and some other countries to denote the purity of gold.
L'échelle des carats va de 1 à 24, l'or 24 carats étant considéré comme de l'or pur. Pure gold is very soft and malleable, so it is often alloyed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. The most common alloys used are copper, silver, nickel, and zinc.
Here's a breakdown of the most common gold karat values and their corresponding purity levels:
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24 Karat (24K ou 24/24) : C'est de l'or pur, contenant 99,9 % d'or. Il s'agit du plus haut niveau de pureté, mais il n'est pas couramment utilisé pour les bijoux en raison de sa douceur.
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22 Karat (22K or 22/24): Contains 91.7% gold and 8.3% alloy metals. It is commonly used in high-quality jewelry, especially in traditional or cultural designs.
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18 Karat (18K or 18/24): Contains 75% gold and 25% alloy metals. It is a popular choice for fine jewelry, balancing both purity and durability.
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14 Karat (14K or 14/24): Contains 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy metals. Il est largement utilisé aux États-Unis et offre un bon équilibre entre teneur en or et durabilité.
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10 Karat (10K or 10/24): Contains 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy metals. It is the minimum karatage allowed to be considered "real gold" in the United States. It is often used in affordable jewelry or pieces that require more strength and resistance to wear.
It's important to note that the karatage only indicates the purity of gold in a piece; il ne fournit pas d'informations sur la couleur ou d'autres caractéristiques. Different alloy metals can be used to achieve different colors, such as yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold.
Lors de l’achat de bijoux en or, il est essentiel de vérifier la marque de carats gravée sur la pièce pour déterminer sa pureté. Cette marque se trouve généralement à l’intérieur des bagues, des fermoirs de colliers ou de bracelets, ou au dos des boucles d’oreilles.
