Gold Karat Converter
Convert gold karat values to theoretical purity percentage and fineness.
How to Use the Gold Karat Converter
Enter a gold karat value to estimate the percentage of pure gold in the alloy. Karat purity is based on 24 parts, where 24K represents essentially pure gold.
Practical Example
18K gold contains 18/24 = 75% gold, while 14K gold contains about 58.33% gold.
Factors That Affect Interpretation
Jewelry may be marked according to local standards and manufacturing tolerances. The remaining alloy can contain silver, copper, palladium or other metals that affect color and hardness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage is 18K gold?
18K gold is 75% pure gold.
What percentage is 14K gold?
14K gold is about 58.33% pure gold.
Is 24K always exactly 100% pure?
Commercial 24K gold is very high purity, though practical fineness may be slightly below 100%.
Understanding Gold Karat and Purity
Gold karat expresses purity on a 24-part scale. Pure 24K gold is treated as 100%, while 18K corresponds to 18/24 or 75% gold and 14K is about 58.3%.
Karat conversion describes nominal composition only. Real jewelry can use legal tolerances, plating or mixed alloys, so assay results may differ slightly from the stated karat mark.
Methodology and Interpretation
Gold karat expresses gold content out of 24 parts, so approximate purity percentage is karat ÷ 24 × 100. Commercial alloys can have assay tolerances, and hallmark systems may express fineness in thousandths instead of karat.