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What does KARAT mean? Karat, spelled K A R A T, refers to the fineness of gold. 24 karat gold is 100% pure gold. 18 karat gold is 18 parts pure gold to 6 parts other alloys, 14 karat gold is 14 parts pure gold to 10 parts other alloys, 10 karat gold is 10 parts pure gold to 14 parts other alloys, and so on. Gold is a very soft metal, and so it is mixed with other metals, typically copper and silver, to improve its strength and durability.
White gold is actually yellow gold that is alloyed with 10-20% nickel and sometimes smaller amounts of zinc or copper which makes it appear white. It is somewhat tougher and harder than yellow gold, so is often used for the prongs that hold stones, even in yellow gold jewelry. White gold jewelry is often plated with rhodium, a metal of the platinum family, to give it a brighter white color.
Gold filled jewelry is not actually filled with gold, but is really a metal base upon which is soldered a thin sheet of karat gold that is at least 10 KT or finer. 1/20 or more of the total weight of all metal in the item must be karat gold to be called gold filled.
Gold plated jewelry is actually a base metal which is electroplated with gold or an alloy of gold. It often appears very yellow in color, and is a much thinner coating of gold than in gold filled jewelry.
Jewelry that is going to be worn on a regular basis will last much longer if made of karat gold, as the gold finish on gold filled or plated jewelry will wear off in time. One of the beauties of karat gold jewelry is that is can be polished and made to look almost like new again, and passed on to future generations.
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