18K gold: how much does it weigh and what standard is it?

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 the carat system is more common, which can cause difficulties with calculations. But in reality, everything is not so difficult. In this article, we will figure out how much 18 carats of gold weighs, what sample it corresponds to.

Many people think that the usual 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% pure metal, with the designation 585 - 58.5%, similarly with other samples.

Thus, the carat system makes it possible to find out how much pure gold is contained in the alloy... Since the unit of measurement expresses the fraction of the metal, the question of how many grams it is, as for precious stones, is irrelevant here.

Numbers from 9 to 24 are used as designations for carats., the last test is considered the highest and is taken as 100% in the calculations. Physically, the absolute purity of the metal is unattainable, traces of impurities will still be present, therefore, in fact, items marked in this way contain 99.9% gold. As a rule, these are bank bars that are used as currency. This material is not suitable for jewelry making - it is too soft and deforms quickly.

Taking 24 for 100%, we can calculate 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 multiplied by 18 and we get 75% percent. The same calculations can be performed with any other sample by substituting the desired value.

For those who do not want to waste time on calculations, there is a correspondence table that allows you to quickly correlate the most popular designations of the carat and metric systems. From there you can find out that:

• 24 K is 999 sample;
• 18 carat gold corresponds to 750 standard;
• 14 K in the metric system is marked 585.

As marking the most common option is 18 K, but you can also find abbreviations "kt", "kar." and other variations. They are all identical and mean the same thing, but the letters "KP" 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 KP mark is stamped on the surface after the number 18, there will be exactly the indicated number of carats, not less.

According to the production technology, 18-carat gold contains 75% of this pure metal. Remains another 25% for the share of foreign impurities. These are ligatures 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 quite rare components.

The pure color of 18K 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 there is none at all, but it contains up to 25% silver. Jewelers also use the technique rhodium plating - apply a thin layer of rhodium to the surface. This not only gives extra strength, but also allows you to get black gold.

Please note that some people may be allergic to nickel. Although in products marked with 18 K this component is rare and in small quantities, with high sensitivity, irritation may occur at the points of contact of the jewelry with the skin.

First of all it is worth make sure you are buying exactly gold, not gilded jewelry. The product must be try and stigma manufacturer - usually they are located on the clasp or on the inside of the jewelry. There are other methods that can help you recognize deception:

• you can try to scratch the object with a thin needle - if the scratch is darker than the surface, then another metal is hidden under the layer of gilding;
• jewelry that has darkened after several days of wearing also indicates a fake;
• some shops and pawnshops carry out a jewelry examination to order, using special reagents, which gives a high accuracy of verification.

In jewelry stores, products with a mark of 14 and 18 carats (585 and 750 tests) are most often found. Let's consider how to choose the best option.

• By appointment... If you are looking for something for everyday wear, look out for the 14K mark. These jewelry are more durable and can withstand light shocks, scratches and other impacts. Products made of 18-karat gold are positioned as accessories for special occasions.They have a pronounced shine, look impressive, but require careful handling.
• According to the age... If you are buying a gift for a child, then it is better to stay on products with a low carat. Children do not always handle things with care and can inadvertently damage fragile jewelry.
• At cost. Gold of 585 assay value is cheaper than 750. The price is also influenced by the presence of precious stones, the complexity of execution - unusual details, special fasteners. Most of the jewelry is made using an automated method, but some designer items require manual work, so they will be more expensive than others.
• Compatibility. Base gold looks duller, its color is not so pure and saturated. This is not so noticeable when you are wearing one piece of jewelry, but if you want to assemble a set from different items, make sure that they are of the same carat. It is better to choose a pendant or a ring with the same markings for 18K earrings so that your accessories look organically together.
• Allergy... If items marked with 10 or 14 carats are irritating to the skin, you should try changing them to 18 carat gold. These 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 need to look for jewelry marked “Nickel Free”.

Gold 750 can have different shades, which is important when choosing.

1. Classical yellow metal is most often used for the manufacture of wedding rings, luxury watches. This shade goes well with any precious stones and looks spectacular on dark skin.
2. Red gold is more resistant to wear due to the large amount of copper in the composition. It can be used to create unusual designer products with complex patterns or use it for everyday decorations.
3. White gold is considered elite and perfectly emphasizes the beauty of diamonds. However, the composition contains nickel, which can cause allergies.
4. Pink the shade is one of the most fashionable, it is preferred by many jewelry houses that focus on the luxury segment of the market.
5. Metal with greenish Because of its fragility, it is not often used with a shade, but such decorations look unusual.
6. Black gold has appeared relatively recently, but has already become popular. It is durable and does not lose its luster.

There are several guidelines to help you extend the life of your 18K gold jewelry:

• Take off jewelry if you plan to visit the gym or pool;
• store accessories in a padded box in a dry place;
• do not use abrasive cleaning agents for care;
• if a fastener or other element is broken, take the product to an approved workshop with a good reputation.

With careful handling and proper care, gold can serve its owners for a long time and be passed down 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 the jewelry.