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| Carat | Purity | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 24 carat | 1.000 | Pure gold – too soft for everyday wear |
| 18 carat | 0.750 | Luxurious yellow gold – rich tone |
| 14 carat | 0.585 | Popular and durable |
| 9 carat | 0.375 | Strong and affordable |
When buying a gold engagement ring, you’ll often see terms like 9 carat, 14 carat or 18 carat. But what do they actually mean? And which type suits your needs best? In this guide, we explain what carat means, the different types available, and the pros and cons of each.
Carat indicates how much pure gold is in a gold alloy. Gold is almost always mixed with other metals (like copper, silver or palladium) to make it stronger and easier to work with. The higher the carat, the more pure gold is in the jewellery.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
That depends on your budget, lifestyle and personal preferences:
Would you like an engagement ring that looks luxurious but is still durable enough for everyday wear? Then 14 carat is often the perfect compromise. Prefer something that truly stands out and has a higher gold value? Then 18 carat is a better match.
Regardless of which carat you choose, good care will significantly extend the life of your jewellery. Take your ring off during heavy work, store it safely and have it checked regularly by a jeweller.
That way, you’ll enjoy a gold engagement ring that perfectly suits you — for years to come.
Gold content: 9ct = 37.5%, 14ct = 58.5%, 18ct = 75%
Gold carat refers to purity. Diamond carat refers to weight (1 ct = 0.2 g).
14 carat — the ideal balance between durability, price and looks.
Yes — it has been officially recognised since mid-19th century.
Yes — it’s strong enough for everyday use and keeps its shine well.
Not really — it’s softer and more prone to wear and scratches.
Yes — especially with 9 carat due to the higher content of metals like nickel or copper. 14 and 18 carat reduce this risk.
Yes, carat has the same meaning for white, yellow, and rose gold. It tells you how much pure gold is in the metal – not its colour.
Examples:
Colour differences come from the additional metals:
A 14 carat ring always contains 58.5% gold, regardless of the colour. Only the appearance and alloy composition are different.