Gold Purity

What does karat (kt) mean?

Typically, items made of gold are marked with a karat weight. The term "karat" in relation to gold is the measure of gold purity by mass. The lower the karat weight the less gold the item contains. Conversely, the higher the karat weight the more gold the item contains. The purest gold has a maximum purity of 24 karats.

If an item is marked 10K, this item contains 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy metals. How this percentage is calculated is by using this formula:

                               10K divided by 24K = 0.417

The purity of the gold is usually stamped or engraved onto jewelry, often after being tested by a qualified testing facility. Inspection of your gold pieces should indicate a specific karat weight. Markings vary for each karat weight. For example, 10k may be marked 10k, 417, or .417. When you know the karat value of a gold item, you can directly calculate how pure that gold is.

 The gold price depends on the karat value that it contains and the weight of the item. Once you have determined the karat value and weight of your item, use our PRECIOUS METALS CALCULATOR to calculate its value.

 
Yellow Gold

What's the difference between Yellow, White, Green (usually only found in Black Hills Gold), and Rose gold? Well as far as what we pay, they are all worth the same, their color does not influence their value. Generally there is very little difference between the alloys of Gold. Basically they're gold with some other metals added either to change the color (as is the case with White and Rose Gold.) Yellow gold is colored from its natural elements.

 
White Gold

White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal mixed in, usually nickel or palladium. White gold's properties can vary dramatically depending on the metals and proportions used in the mix. This is done deliberately for different purposes for example, mixing gold with nickel makes it harder which is perfect for rings and brooch pins, while if you mix gold with a soft metal such as palladium then it becomes good for gemstones settings where a pliable gold alloy is required.

 
Green Gold

In order to make gold turn to the green color found in Black Hills Gold, silver is the main metal ingredient mixed with gold.

 
Rose Gold

Rose gold is made when you mix gold with copper since copper has a reddish color naturally, (gold and copper are the only colored metals, all the rest are silverish in color). Rose gold may also vary quite a lot in color depending on the amount of copper mixed with the gold, the higher the copper content the more reddish the color.

 
How Much Will We Pay For Your Gold?

To get an estimate of how much we will pay for a specific item go to our PRECIOUS METALS CALCULATOR where you can calculate the value of your gold items. You must know the weight and karat value of your items.

Common Gold Karat (kt) Weights

The following descriptions are the most common markings found on gold jewelery:

 •For 10 karat - 10k, 10kt, 417 ( 41.7% pure gold)

•For 14 karat - 14k, 14kt, 585 ( 58.5% pure gold)

•For 18 karat - 18k, 18kt, 750 ( 75.0% pure gold)

•For 22 karat - 22k, 22kt, 916 ( 91.6% pure gold)

Please note, both White and Rose gold must be mixed with other metals to create their color, therefore, it’s not possible to have “Pure” (or 99.9% / 24k) Rose or White Gold.

U.S. gold coins of specific value are provided on our Gold Coins Page.

Although we purchase foreign gold coins, they are not listed on our gold coins page. For questions, please call 877-GOLD-195 (877-465-3195).