Gold in its pure form is very soft. In fact, many jewelers recommend people avoid buying watches, bracelets, and chains that are made of pure gold. The softness of the metal makes such pieces extremely susceptible to damage. For this reason, various alloys are added to the mix in order to add strength to it.

Karatage is a system used for measuring the level of purity in any given piece containing gold. The system is universal with the number of karats displayed on the piece, often as part of its hallmark. The number informs buyers and sellers regarding the percentage of gold contained in the item.

In this article, we’ll provide a brief overview of karatage from the perspective of selling your scrap gold and old gold jewelry. Knowing the number of karats for each of your pieces is essential to valuing them accurately, and recognizing a fair appraisal.

How The Karatage System Works

Technically, the number of karats reflects the fineness of gold in parts per thousand. Pure gold is 24 karats, and all other karats are measured against it. For example, 21 karats is equal to a fineness level of 875 (out of 1,000), which reflects a 87.5% gold content. For comparison, the following table lists other karats as well as their respective fineness levels and gold content percentages.

22 karats – 916 – 91.6%
18 karats – 750 – 75.0%
14 karats – 585 – 58.5%
10 karats – 417 – 41.7%
9 karats – 375 – 37.5%
8 karats – 333 – 33.3%

The more gold contained in a given piece, the higher that piece’s value (ignoring aesthetic features that might affect an item’s value). It’s also worth mentioning that different countries maintain their own rules regarding karatages that can be sold. For example, in the U.S., the minimum is 10 karats; in the United Kingdom, it is 9 karats; and Germany allows sales of 8 karats.

Does Karatage Affect Color?

Karatage has no direct effect on the color of a given piece. When color differs between two gold items, the reason is due to the alloys used in their respective mixtures. Pure gold (without alloys) is yellow. White gold contains palladium, zinc, or nickel, or a combination. “Red” gold (which appears yellow with a rose-colored tint) contains copper. Though it is much less common, green gold usually has cadmium mixed into it.

Color does not, by itself, affect the value of a given piece. That said, if there is less demand for a particular color gold, the price that jewelers and dealers are willing to pay may be less. But it’s important to realize the value of a piece is based primarily on its karatage, not its color.

When You’re Ready To Sell Your Gold Online

Once you have made the decision to sell your gold jewelry and scrap gold, you’ll need to find a buyer. You can sell your collection offline to a pawnshop or jeweler, but both are unlikely to offer a competitive price. The price they pay needs to be sufficiently low to allow them to sell your pieces for a profit. A better solution is to sell your gold pieces online.

Many online buyers are similar to pawnshops: they serve as middlemen. They’ll extend a low price for your gold, hoping to make a profit by selling it to a refiner. Online, you can easily eliminate the middleman, and work directly with a refiner. The advantage is that you’ll receive a higher price for your pieces.

When you find a refiner, take the time to explore their website. They should have several years of experience in the refining industry. Also, check whether they offer to insure the package in which you’ll send your gold items. This is a sign of reliability. Lastly, if you have questions after exploring their website, call the refiner for clarification. The reputable ones will be happy to help.

Author Bio: The best online resource to Sell Gold. Find out more at Gold Seller News from refinity.com

Category: Business
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