What Is The Difference Between Carat & Karat?
When shopping for jewelry, its not unusual to start wondering what the difference is between a karat and a carat. However, with a little research its not hard to understand the differences between these two measurements.
Jeremy Lupke
Last Update a year ago
A karat is a measurement used to measure the purity of gold, with 24 karat being the purest. The measurement gauges how much gold vs. how much alloy is in the piece of jewelry.
All jewelry that is real gold will have its karat weight stamped somewhere on the jewelry. In rings it is usually stamped on the inside of the band and on bracelets and necklaces its usually stamped somewhere on the clasp.
The word carat originates from the carob bean, which was once used to measure fine gemstones. A carat is a measurement that is used to measure the weight of a diamond. One carat equals 200 milligrams or .2 grams.