karat
Var. of carat. Obs. exc. U.S.
| 1901 Manufacturing Jeweler 28 Feb. 244 (Advt.), Our rose gold, green gold, Roman and karat gold..are well known and universally used. 1903 ‘O. Henry’ in Ainslee's Mag. Mar. 125/1 There stood..a first-class looking little man, with a four-karat diamond on his finger. 1945 Jewelers' Dict. 124/2 In U.S. usage karat designates the proportion of fine gold in an alloy; while carat is applied to the weight of a stone. 1972 Newsweek 10 Jan. 15/1 (Advt.), Cross pens and pencils are recognized as fine writing instruments. Available in lustrous chrome, sterling silver, gold filled and solid fourteen karat gold, they are purchased with pride. 1972 Sci. Amer. Dec. 8/1 (Advt.), Exclusive, extra-large, 18-karat gold point with etched facing assures super-smooth writing action. |