A karat, when used with gold, is a unit of purity-- 24-karat gold is pure gold, but usually you mix gold with a metal like copper or silver to make jewellery (because pure gold is too soft).Each karat indicates 1/24th of the whole. So if a piece of jewellery is made of metal that is 18 parts gold and 6 parts copper, that is 18-karat gold.
Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It is known not only for its intrinsicphysical properties but also for its impact on the global economy. India’s gold market ismainly driven by the consumption and fabrication of the yellow metal into gold coins, goldjewellery and other gold articles. The value of gold is measured by its purity which isdenoted in karat (k) or carat (Ct). Higher karat signifies higher gold purity. Among Indians,22K and 24K gold is quite a popular choice. If you are wondering which one of the two willbe best suited for your requirements, read on.
| 24 Caret Gold | 22 Caret Gold |
|---|---|
| 99.99% pure | 91.67% pure |
| Mostly used to make coins and bars. It is alsoused in the manufacturing of electronics,medical devices, and other gold articles. |
Mostly used to make gold jewellery and other decorative items. |
| Has a distinct bright yellow color. | Has a pale yellow color which can be changed by mixing other metals. |
| More expensive than 18K and 22K gold. | Lesser expensive than 24K gold but more expensive than 18K gold. |
All gold coins, bars or jewellery has its purity marked. To ensure you are paying for what you need, look for BIS Hallmark.
24 Carat Gold:
The 24 karat gold is the purest form of gold that anyone can get in the market. By the term “pure” we mean 99.99% pure. When we say a gold article is 24 karat “pure gold”, most people think it includes 100% gold, which is not the case. If companies want, they probably can extract 100% gold from the ore but that will be very costly as well as impractical as gold at room temperature in its pure form is highly malleable (too soft to hold its shape or form). Therefore, gold is processed till 99.99% purity.
The presence of an impurity in gold imparts the metal rigidity to hold its form so that it canbe easily used for minting coins, making gold bars and other industrial purposes. As far as its color is concerned, gold in its pure form shines with a distinct bright yellow color. And if we talk about gold price in India, it fluctuates every day. But since 24K gold is the purest form of gold, it is more expensive than 22 karat gold.
22 Carat Gold:
The 22 karat gold has 22 parts of gold mixed with 2 parts of other metals such as copper, nickel, etc. Gold of this karat is also known as ‘916 gold’ because it comprises of 91.67% of pure gold. The presence of other metals with the gold makes it
harder than a 24K pure gold and resultantly, appropriate to make jewellery. However, jewellers prefer 18 karat gold to 22 karat gold to make heavily studded ornaments. The color of 22 karat gold is pale yellow as it contains a lesser amount of gold. Also, its color can be changed by mixing other metals with it.