Why we started Karat & Key
Most people own jewelry that matters to them, in money, in memories or both. Yet very few could say today what each piece is worth, or put their hands on the receipt, the appraisal and a clear photo if they ever had to.
That usually only comes to light at the worst moment: after a break-in, a lost ring, or when a family is sorting through a loved one’s things. We would rather it never got that far. So we are building Karat & Key ahead of time: a private place to know what each piece is worth, keep its photos, receipts and appraisals together, and find plain answers before you need them.
What we believe
- Honest numbers. Our calculator shows every step of the math, so you can check it yourself. We never present the gold value as an appraisal, and we say clearly what it leaves out.
- Your privacy comes first. We never sell your details. In your vault, you decide who sees each piece, if anyone.
- Calm, plain help. Many people look for answers like these at a hard moment. We write clearly, kindly and without pressure, the way we would want someone to talk to our own family.
How we write our guides
- Each guide is written by our team to answer the questions people most often search for about their jewelry.
- We check the facts against official and industry sources, such as the FTC’s jewelry guides, state insurance departments and appraisal organizations, and list them at the end of every guide.
- Every guide shows the date it was last reviewed, and we update guides when prices, rules or common practice change.
- No one pays us to recommend a product or company. If we ever earn from a link, we will say so right next to it.
- Our guides are general information to help you get your bearings. For your own policy or piece, your insurer, agent or a qualified appraiser has the final word.
How we work out values
The gold calculator uses a live market price for gold, refreshed every 10 minutes. It multiplies the weight of a piece by its gold content (from the karat) and by the price of pure gold per gram. That gives the value of the gold alone; stones, brand names, age and craftsmanship can add to it, and only a written appraisal can value the whole piece.
Talk to us
Have a question about a piece, or something we could explain better? A real person reads every message.