Understanding Karats
The first step in determining the value of your gold items is understanding their purity, which is measured in karats (K). Pure gold is 24 karats, but because it's too soft for most uses, it's typically alloyed with other metals. Jewelry and other gold items can range from 10K (41.7% gold) to 22K (91.7% gold). The karat rating is usually stamped on the item.