Gold is alloyed with other metals to make it harder and to change its colour. The karat tells you how much gold the alloy contains: 18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.5%.
What to consider
- Karat: higher karats are richer in colour; lower karats are harder.
- Colour: yellow, white or rose.
- Marking: precious-metal marks confirm the fineness.
Read Gold karats explained and 14K vs 18K gold.