JEWELRY EDUCATION > GLOSSARY > KP
KP
Used in reference to gold and demarked on the inside of rings with "KP," meaning karat plumb. This is a guarantee that the gold content compared to other metals is exact. Gold used in jewelry is typically an alloy as pure gold, 24 karat, is too soft to be worn everyday. So, for example, if a piece is stamped with 18KP it means that it is exactly 18 parts pure gold and six parts other metals.
