- Gold's purity is measured in karats. The term "karat" harks back to the ancient bazaars where "carob" beans were used to weigh precious metals.
- 24 karat is pure gold, but its purity means it is more expensive and less durable than gold that is alloyed with other metals.
- Different alloys are used in jewelry for greater strength, durability and color range.
- The karatage of the jewelry will tell you what percentage of gold it contains: 24 karat is 100 percent, 18 karat is 75 percent, and 14 karat is 58 percent gold.
- When comparing gold jewelry, the higher the number of karats, the greater the value.
- Europeans have long embraced 18-karat gold as their metal of choice, and with good reason. Its rich yellow color, luxurious look and feel have an extraordinarily sensual appeal; many European women treat 18-karat gold like a second skin, even wearing it to the beach!
- Today, women in the U.S. and around the globe are "trading up" and treating themselves to the beauty and opulence of 18-karat gold.
