CT same as K Question: I have a bracelet that is marked 14ct.

Is that the same as 14K?

Kari

Answer: In answer to your CT same as K question

G'day Kari and many thanks for your query.

The simple answer is YES!

It depends what part of the world you come from. In Britain, Canada and most of the British Empire - like Australia and New Zealand, South Africa etc - they use the abbreviation ct for carat - as in 9 carat gold, or 9ct.

But there is much more to this simple answer...

In the States and Europe, together with South East Asia and China - they use karat, so their jewelry is marked as 14k or 14K or 14KT etc.

This was brought about in order to differentiate the word carat (for gold quality) and carat (for gemstone weights). Diamonds are always shown in carats and points. 100 points = 1 carat weight.

Article Continued Below...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Related Items Available on eBay Right now...

Article Continued Below...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best Prices On Related Items From eBay - right Now!

Article Continued...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Article Continued...

So the powers that be changed the wording for gold quality to karat, so there would be no mistaking the descriptions. A great idea too - even though I am from Britain (Wales) in the first place and now live in Australia, where we use the other spelling. Shheesshhh!

The same applies to the work Jewelry (American spelling) as apart from jewellery (British spelling).

"You say Tomato - I say Tomato - Let's call the whole thing off"

You might also like to add this query to my Jewelry Forum as other may have had a similar problem.

http://www.online-jewelry-appraisals.net/jewelry-forum/

Can't hurt anyway and who knows what answers you may get.

Hope this helps, but if it doesn't, you might like to try our Jewelry Appraisals Online System for yourself.

Start Your Jewelry Appraisal Now!

Invitation: Thanks for your visit, but after all the hard work (unpaid) we put into this site - if nothing else - we would certainly appreciate your comments on this article. Go On - Be Lazy - Click here to use the form below...

#1: Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Fourth Edition - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

Gemstones of the World: Newly Revised & Expanded Fourth Edition
by Walter Schumann
(3)

Buy new: $24.95 $16.47
54 used & new from $14.22

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Jewelry list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#2: Jewels of the Romanovs: Family & Court - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

Jewels of the Romanovs: Family & Court
by Stefano Papi
Publication Date: October 31, 2010

Buy new: $75.00 $47.25

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Jewelry list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

#3: Summer at Tiffany - Thu, 2 Sep 2010

Summer at Tiffany
Marjorie Hart (Author)
(57)

Download: $9.99
195 used & new from $8.79

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Jewelry list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Tags: american spelling, carat gold, carat weight, jewelry appraisals, south east asia

This entry was posted on February 11, 2008 at 4:30 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Identification by resident gemologist appraiser No Comments Yet