If you’re planning a gift of gold or gemstone jewelry for your sweetheart, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Start with the basics. Carats and karats. What’s the difference? Simply put, a carat is a unit of weight for gemstones, including diamonds; a karat is a unit for measuring the purity of gold.

Gold The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry. For example, 24K gold has more gold content than 14K gold. But because 24K gold is soft, it’s usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability; 14K jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal.

Tags: Gemstone Jewelry, Gift of Gold

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