There are specific grams of gold in gold chains. Although there is a specific carat of gold used to make chains, which is 14k gold, there are still variations of gold chains that use higher and lower carats of gold. But have you ever wondered about the amount of gold content in a gold chain? Here is your complete guide to the gold content in gold chains.
What Is Gold Purity?
When gold is 24 karats, it is said to be 100 percent pure. Pure gold is rarely used in jewelry because it is too fragile and bends readily. It is mixed with other metals, including zinc, copper, silver, and others, to make it tougher and more appropriate for jewelry creation. The purity of gold can be known through its karat and weight. There is a specific gold content for every carat of gold.
Perhaps you have heard of karat (abbreviated K or kt), the most extensively used gold purity measurement. Karat is a unit of measurement that ranges from 0 to 24. A piece of jewelry with a purity of one karat, for example, is made up of one part gold and 23 parts other metals or alloys. Purity can alternatively be expressed as a percentage or as a number of parts per thousand. Divide the carat number by 24 and multiply by 100 to convert carats to percentages.
For example, to determine the gold percentage in a 20-karat ring, divide 20 by 24, yielding 0.833, or 83.3% gold content (which also translates to 833 parts per thousand).
Gold Chain Weight Guide
| Thickness (mm) | 16“ | 18” | 20” | 22” | 24” | 26” | 28” | 30” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5mm | 3.1grams | 3.5grams | 3.9grams | 4.3grams | 4.7grams | 5.1grams | 5.5grams | 5.9grams |
| 2mm | 3.7grams | 4.2grams | 4.7grams | 5.1grams | 5.6grams | 6.0grams | 6.5grams | 6.9grams |
| 2.25mm | 5.3grams | 5.9grams | 6.5grams | 7.2grams | 7.8grams | 8.5grams | 9.1grams | 9.8grams |
| 2.5mm | 6.8grams | 7.6grams | 8.4grams | 9.3grams | 10.1grams | 10.9 grams | 11.8grams | 12.6grams |
| 2.75mm | 8.4grams | 9.4grams | 10.4grams | 11.4grams | 12.6grams | 13.6grams | 14.6grams | 15.6grams |
| 3mm | 10.3grams | 11.5grams | 12.7grams | 14.0grams | 15.2grams | 16.5grams | 17.7grams | 19.0grams |
| 3.5mm | 12.8grams | 14.4grams | 16.0grams | 17.5grams | 19.1grams | 20.6grams | 22.2grams | 23.7grams |
| 4mm | 16.6grams | 18.6grams | 20.6grams | 22.6grams | 24.7grams | 26.7grams | 28.7grams | 30.7grams |
| 5mm | 21.9grams | 24.6grams | 27.3grams | 30.0grams | 32.7grams | 35.4grams | 38.1grams | 40.8grams |
| 6mm | 33.1grams | 37.2grams | 41.3grams | 45.4grams | 49.5grams | 53.6grams | 57.7grams | 61.8grams |
| 6.5mm | 41.3grams | 46.4grams | 51.6grams | 56.7grams | 61.9grams | 67.1grams | 72.2grams | 77.4grams |
How To Calculate The Weight Of Gold?
Gold and alloying metals are measured in troy ounces by jewelers. The terminologies and units of weight cited, however, may vary depending on the circumstances.
- 12 troy ounces Equals 1 troy pound
- 20 pennyweights = 1 troy ounce (dwt)
- 24 grains Equals 1 pennyweight (dwt) (gr)
- 1 gram = 15.43 grains (gr) (gm)
- 1 troy ounce is 31.10 grams (gm)
How To Determine The Gold Karat Values?
The purity of gold is measured by the karat value (K) of an item. To put it another way, it calculates the percentage of pure gold vs alloy metals. Gold in the 24K range is 100 percent pure. 12K gold is made up of 12 parts gold and 12 parts alloy metal, resulting in a purity of 50 percent.
To find the purity %, multiply any K value by 24 or use the following guide:
- 24 K gold means 24 karats of gold, with 24/24 parts of gold, which means that it is 100 percent pure gold.
- 18 K gold is 18/24 parts of gold, which means 75 percent pure gold.
- 14 K gold is 14/24 parts of gold, which means 58.33 percent pure gold.
- 12 K gold is 12/24 parts for gold, which means that it has 50 percent pure gold content.
- 10 K gold is 10/24 parts of gold, which means that it has 41.66 percent of pure gold content.
How To Determine Gold Content In Jewelry?
The gold content of a jewelry is determined by its purity. The purity of a gold chain depends on its gold content. Hence, when you determine the purity of a gold chain, you can be able to determine its gold content. To avoid purchasing counterfeit gold, it’s best to get your precious metal from a trusted source. Knowing how to test the purity of gold, on the other hand, can save you a lot of time and effort. Here are some basic tests you may do at home to see if your gold is genuine.
Magnifying Glass Test
This is perhaps the easiest gold test you can do at home. Only a magnifying glass and your gold chain are required. Using the magnifying lens, carefully examine your gold object for the following visual signs:
Discoloration – The characteristics of gold are unaffected by environmental conditions. If your gold has any discolouration marks, it is either gold-plated or false gold.
Strange Change in Color – Gold has an unusual tone and sheen to it, with a light golden hue and isn’t overly gleaming. It’s not pure gold if it’s lustrous, yellow, or reddish in color.
Acid Test
The acid test works by causing harm to your precious metal’s fake materials. The qualities of pure gold are unaffected by a nitric acid test. Make a small mark on your gold piece to pierce the surface and begin the test. Examine the area with a drop of nitric acid to see how it reacts.
Fake gold will turn green as soon as it comes into contact with acid. Genuine gold will not react with the acid, leaving you with a clear liquid that will not alter color.
Magnet Test
The magnetic test is a great alternative if you’re looking for a simple and portable gold purity test. The magnet is small enough to fit in your pocket. So, how exactly does the magnetic test function?
A magnet will not attract pure gold, but it will attract imitation gold and other alloys. This test can help you determine the underlying metal if you acquire an item that appears to be gold but is not.
Float Test
To do this test, simply place your gold item in a cup of water. Because gold has a high density of 19.32 g/ml, it will sink quickly in water. Items that are fake or gold-plated frequently float or hover on the surface. A gold alloy is expected to tilt up halfway. Because some phony products may include other heavy metals that sink in water, the float test isn’t 100 percent correct.
If your piece sinks but you still have doubts about its genuineness, you might wish to attempt another test. If your object rusts or discolors with time, you can be sure it’s a fake.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are no specific grams of gold present in a gold chain. But the purity and gold content percentage of a gold chain can be determined in various ways. The presence of grams of gold in gold chains are determined by the jeweler or the buyer if it is personalized. While it can be daunting to shop for gold chains, there are ways to determine the purity of the gold chain and avoid making the mistake of investing in fake or low quality gold chains.