Gold Karat Guide
Understanding gold purity, karat ratings, and how to identify the value of your scrap gold jewelry and items.
Calculate Your Gold ValueGold Karat Chart & Values
| Karat | Purity % | Gold Content | Common Uses | Current Price/Gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 999 parts gold | Investment coins, bars | $113.42 |
| 22K | 91.7% | 917 parts gold | High-end jewelry, coins | $104.02 |
| 18K | 75.0% | 750 parts gold | Fine jewelry, wedding rings | $85.07 |
| 14K | 58.3% | 583 parts gold | Popular jewelry, everyday wear | $66.16 |
| 12K | 50.0% | 500 parts gold | Budget jewelry | $56.71 |
| 10K | 41.7% | 417 parts gold | Entry-level jewelry | $47.26 |
| 9K | 37.5% | 375 parts gold | UK/European jewelry | $42.53 |
| 8K | 33.3% | 333 parts gold | Low-grade jewelry | $37.81 |
How to Identify Gold Karat
🔍 Look for Hallmarks & Stamps
Most gold jewelry has stamps indicating karat purity:
- 24K stamps: 24K, 24KT, 999, .999
- 18K stamps: 18K, 18KT, 750, .750
- 14K stamps: 14K, 14KT, 585, .585
- 10K stamps: 10K, 10KT, 417, .417
Common locations: Inside rings, clasp areas, back of pendants, earring posts
🧪 Professional Testing Methods
Acid Testing (Most Common)
How it works: Different acids react with different karat levels
- 10K acid: Tests for 10K and above
- 14K acid: Tests for 14K and above
- 18K acid: Tests for 18K and above
- 22K acid: Tests for 22K and above
Process: Small scratch made on testing stone, acid applied, color reaction observed
Electronic Testing (XRF)
Advantages: Non-destructive, instant results, highly accurate
How it works: X-ray fluorescence analyzes elemental composition
Used by: Professional dealers, refiners, high-end jewelry stores
Fire Assay (Most Accurate)
Process: Sample melted at high temperature, impurities removed
Accuracy: 99.5%+ accurate, industry standard for large quantities
Drawback: Destructive test, requires sample destruction
🏠 At-Home Testing Methods
⚠️ Warning: These are screening tests only, not definitive
🧲 Magnet Test
Method: Hold strong magnet near gold item
Result: Real gold is not magnetic
Limitation: Many fake golds are also non-magnetic
🪨 Ceramic Scratch Test
Method: Scratch gold on unglazed ceramic tile
Real gold: Leaves golden streak
Fake gold: Leaves black or no streak
💧 Skin Discoloration Test
Method: Wear item for several hours
Low karat/fake: May cause green or black skin marks
High karat: No discoloration
🔍 Visual Inspection
- Color: Higher karat = more yellow/golden
- Wear patterns: Gold-plated items show base metal at wear points
- Tarnishing: Real gold doesn't tarnish or rust
- Weight: Gold is heavy; fake gold feels lighter
🔬 Understanding Test Results
Acid Test Color Guide:
- Bright golden color: Matches or exceeds test karat
- Slight color change: Close to test karat level
- Brown/dark color: Below test karat level
- Immediate dissolution: Much lower than test karat
When Tests Disagree:
- Stamp vs test: Trust the test result over stamps
- Multiple tests: Use most conservative (lowest) result
- Plated items: May test high initially, then low on deeper scratch
- Alloy variations: Some gold alloys test differently than pure gold
⚠️ What Affects Gold Value
- Karat purity: Higher karat = more valuable
- Weight: Heavier pieces worth more
- Condition: Broken jewelry still valuable for scrap
- Stones: Usually removed, not included in scrap price
- Plating: Gold-plated items have minimal scrap value
Common Gold Items & Their Typical Karats
💍 Jewelry Items
- Wedding rings: Usually 14K or 18K
- Engagement rings: Often 14K or 18K
- Chains/necklaces: 10K to 18K common
- Earrings: 14K most popular
- Bracelets: 10K to 14K typical
- Class rings: Usually 10K
🪙 Coins & Bars
- American Eagles: 22K (91.7% pure)
- Canadian Maple Leafs: 24K (99.9% pure)
- Krugerrands: 22K (91.7% pure)
- Gold bars: Usually 24K (99.9% pure)
- Older US coins: 21.6K (90% pure)
Calculate Your Gold's Value
Now that you understand karat ratings, use our calculator to determine your scrap gold's current market value.