# Carat of gems and karats of gold: not the same thing

> Carat measures the weight of gems, 0.2 grams; karats of gold measure its purity out of 24 parts. Explanation and chart.

- Source: https://www.711grados.com/en/carat-of-gems-and-karats-of-gold/
- Language: en
- Note: This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.
- Published: 2026-08-24
- Updated: 2026-08-28
- Translation (es): https://www.711grados.com/es/quilate-de-las-gemas-y-quilates-del-oro/
- Author: Sandra Sánchez
- Site: 711 Grados (https://www.711grados.com/)

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In Spanish “quilate” is used for two different measures: the weight of a gem and the purity of gold. In English they are distinguished: *carat* and *karat*.

## Carat of gems

A unit of weight: 1 carat = 0.2 grams. It is divided into 100 points. A 0.5 carat diamond weighs 0.1 grams.

## Karats of gold

They indicate how many parts out of 24 are gold: 24K gold is almost pure; 18K has 18 parts gold (75%); 14K, 14 parts (58.5%); 9K, 9 parts (37.5%). See [14 or 18 karat](https://www.711grados.com/en/14k-vs-18k-gold/).

## Chart

| Gold | Purity | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 999 |
| 22K | 91.6% | 916 |
| 18K | 75% | 750 |
| 14K | 58.5% | 585 |
| 9K | 37.5% | 375 |

## Fineness

Hallmarks state fineness in parts per thousand ([hallmarks and stamps](https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelry-hallmarks-and-stamps/)); it is the same as karats, expressed differently.

## See also

- [14 karat or 18 karat gold: differences and which to choose](https://www.711grados.com/en/14k-vs-18k-gold/)
- [Jewelry hallmarks and stamps: what 925, 750 or 585 mean](https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelry-hallmarks-and-stamps/)
- [The 4Cs of diamonds: cut, color, clarity and carat](https://www.711grados.com/en/diamond-4cs-cut-color-clarity-carat/)
- [Jeweler's scale and caliper](https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelers-scale-and-caliper/)