A gold carat/karat is a unit that measures the purity of gold: 24 carats: Is pure gold, there are no other metals 18 carats: 75% gold and 25% other metals 14 carats: 58.3% gold and 41.7% other metals The higher the carat, the more valuable the gold, but it’s also softer and more likely to be damaged. Gold is often mixed with other metals, called alloys, to make it stronger, more durable, and better-colored. Pure gold is too soft to be practical for jewelry.
