A gold karat value expresses how much pure gold an alloy contains. 24k is pure gold; jewellery gold is alloyed with other metals for strength.
Karats and purity
- 24k: about 99.9% gold — very soft and rarely used in jewellery.
- 22k: 91.6% gold — common in traditional bangles.
- 18k: 75% gold — prized in fine jewellery for its rich colour and good durability.
- 14k: 58.5% gold — more resistant to scratches and knocks, holding stone settings securely.
Colour
Yellow, white and rose gold are created by the proportion of the other metals in the alloy; the karat can stay the same while the colour changes.
Every Gureba product page states the purity and weight of the piece.