Wedding Bands: What is the Right Number of Karats? Part 1
Finding a wedding ring that you love can be tough. There are many factors that go into making this important decision. While you have probably considered your style, personality, and daily activities, have you considered how many karats your gold ring should have? Probably not. The country or region you live in will affect which wedding ring you choose, and there are different standards of karats throughout the world to consider.
Marriage is a custom we see in almost every country in the world, but there are aspects of marriage that vary including the standards for wedding rings. You may have compared dozens of wedding bands in your local shops, but what about different countries or regions? And do you understand the different levels of quality? Depending on where you are from, there are several different standards of karats for wedding rings. These factors stem from cultural norms, traditions, and history. Today, we will discuss the diverse standards of karats for several regions and how they came to be.
North America: United States, Mexico, Canada
A major aspect in the selection of gold is the country of origin and what norms and standards were previously established. People from countries where pure gold is the norm often consider 9 or 14 karat gold to be low quality. There are also people who are more accustomed to lighter gold and find pure 22 karat gold too showy.
Most North American countries regard 14 karat gold as the norm. In the United States (U.S.), fineness or purity seen in the karat ranges from 42% to 75%. While between 10 and 18 karat gold is standard, anything under 10 karats in the U.S. is not considered gold jewelry. In Canada and Mexico, the standard is that a piece of jewelry must be at least 8k – 9k to be sold as gold.
Asia: China, India, Turkey
There is quite the gold rush across Asia when it comes to wedding bands! The further east you travel, the higher the karat seems to be.
In China, the highest standard is 24 karats – pure gold. The wedding ring often ranges a bit lower than 24 karats, but Chinese traditions allow for other pieces to be more decadent such as decoration, heirloom, pendants, earrings, and bracelets. Many show off the 24 karats in its purest form through a variety of jewelry. Not only do the Chinese wear the luxurious karats in wedding bands, but they invest in gold ornaments for birthdays, businesses, and baby celebrations. These pieces convey thoughts of sincerity and eternity while embracing various designs relating to Chinese culture.
The average karat for India is 22 with a fineness of 91.6%. Rings of this quality are quite expensive, but there are reasons India and Arabic countries invest more in gold and use it abundantly in their weddings.
In 2011, India imported more gold than any other country - a fifth of the annual global supply. Indians adore gold, but why? For one, creating a bank account is extremely difficult in India. Many people struggle to get through the red tape and need another method of tracking income. Another reason gold is a popular choice is because it’s widely accepted without any documentation. Gold is also a popular way to store wealth without paying tax and is an asset class that authorities struggle to track.
Not only do Indians choose 22 karat gold for their wedding jewelry but they also use it to signify the depth of their love and commitment. Indian wedding jewelry traditions include earrings to protect from evil, anklets to announce the bride’s arrival, and bangles as a charm of safety and luck.
The traditional Turkish wedding rings are known for having a standard of 14 karats to 22 karats and a fineness ranging from 58% to 92%. The most popular preference is usually yellow gold. Turkish wedding bands are said to be one of the most widely searched types of wedding bands on the Internet from around the world. The popular puzzle rings intrigue many because of their unique design and mysterious meaning. A person can take off and disassemble their puzzle ring, but may not be able to put it back together. If they succeed in reconstructing their wedding ring properly, it is a sign of faithfulness.
Europe: England, Germany, Russia
Historically, European countries considered gold as a form of investment and a method of displaying wealth. In many European cultures, a gift of gold was given to the bride as a way for them to have money, claim independence, and help save them or their families from a bad situation or hardship.
Various countries across Europe maintain different standards relating to customs, karats, and ring fingers. Throughout most of Europe, you will find a range of 14 to 18 karat as the general standard; however, some places like England and Germany have lower standards for wedding bands – favoring 8 and 9 karats. The custom in several European countries including Germany, Greece, Austria, and Poland is to wear the wedding ring on the right hand. In Germany, the engagement ring is worn on the left hand and switched to the right after marriage.
In Russia, engagement rings are a fairly new phenomenon as presenting a bride with a ring is typically a western world tradition. Russia’s standard of wedding ring karats ranges from 9 to 14 with a fineness between 37% and 58%. The most popular wedding rings in Russia are made of gold and are sometimes decorated with precious stones or platinum and silver stripes. Including loving inscriptions on the inside of the wedding band is also a common feature incorporated in Russian wedding rings. Like Germany, Austria, Greece and Poland, Russians are known to wear their wedding rings on the right hand ring finger.
Couldn’t find your region listed in this blog? Stay tuned for Part 2 of our blog to discover the right karats for Australia, South America, and Africa!
Want to figure out how many karats is right for you based on where you live? Let's chat!
Share This Page:
