Karat vs. Carat: What's the Difference?

Two words, nearly identical spelling, completely different jobs. Since we work with both — solid 21K gold and diamond wedding rings — it's a mix-up worth clearing up once and for all.

Karat — the purity of the gold

Karat (written with a K) measures how much of a piece of jewelry is actually gold, on a scale out of 24. Pure gold is 24K. Our pieces are 21K, meaning 21 of those 24 parts are gold — 87.5% — with the rest a small amount of alloy for strength. The higher the karat, the richer the color and the higher the gold content; the lower the karat, the harder and paler the metal gets.

This is what our hallmark stamp certifies, and it's exactly what "trust in every karat" refers to: the number stamped into the metal is a promise about what's actually in it.

Carat — the weight of a diamond

Carat (written with a C, sometimes abbreviated "ct") measures the weight of a diamond or other gemstone — nothing to do with purity or quality on its own. One carat is exactly 0.2 grams. A "1-carat diamond" is simply a diamond that weighs one carat; a bigger number generally means a bigger, heavier stone. Quality is judged separately, through what's known as the 4 Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight together.

A ring can be "a 1.2-carat diamond set in 21K gold" — one number describing the stone, one describing the metal. Neither one substitutes for the other.

Side by side

Why it's worth knowing before you shop

When you're choosing a wedding ring with us, you'll typically hear both numbers in the same conversation — one for the band, one for the stone. Knowing which is which means you can ask sharper questions and know exactly what you're paying for on each side of the piece. And if a number ever feels unclear, ask us directly — walking through it with you is part of the job.