Editorial Policy

Our Commitment to Accuracy and Independence

Karatology exists to make gold purity education accessible, reliable, and free from bias. Every article, calculator, and educational tool on this site is built with a single goal: to help you make informed decisions about precious metals. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of factual accuracy and editorial independence, and we never allow commercial relationships to influence the information we present.

Research Standards

Our content is grounded in authoritative, primary sources. When we make factual claims about gold purity, hallmarking, or precious metal composition, we reference established standards and regulatory guidance, including:

• FTC Jewelry Guides (16 CFR Part 23) -- the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines governing the description and marketing of gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metals in the United States.
• ISO 9202 -- the international standard specifying the recognized finenesses for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium alloys used in jewelry and other applications.
• ISO 11426 -- the international standard for determining gold content in gold alloys through cupellation (fire assay), the industry-accepted testing methodology.

Where local hallmarking regulations or regional standards apply, we identify the relevant authority and provide proper context. We do not present opinions as facts, and we clearly distinguish between widely accepted industry practice and emerging or disputed claims.

Fact-Checking Process

Every article published on Karatology goes through a structured fact-checking process before publication. All factual claims -- including purity percentages, karat equivalences, hallmark meanings, and regulatory references -- are verified against the primary sources listed above. Numerical data, such as gold finenesses and alloy compositions, is cross-referenced with multiple authoritative references to ensure consistency. If we cannot verify a claim to our satisfaction, we either omit it or clearly label it as unverified.

Content Quality Standards

We believe that thorough, well-structured content serves our readers better than thin summaries. Each educational article on Karatology is held to the following quality benchmarks:

• Articles range from 1,500 to 3,000 words and include original analysis, not just restated information from other sources.
• Every article includes at least one original table, comparison chart, or structured data element to help readers visualize key differences.
• Heading hierarchy follows a logical structure so readers can scan for the information most relevant to them.
• Internal links connect related topics, helping readers build a comprehensive understanding of gold purity across multiple articles.

Editorial Independence

Our editorial content is never influenced by affiliate partnerships, advertising relationships, or any other commercial consideration. The topics we cover, the conclusions we reach, and the recommendations we make are determined solely by our editorial team based on what is most useful and accurate for our readers. Affiliate relationships and editorial decisions are managed by separate processes, and no affiliate partner has the ability to review, approve, or alter our content before publication. For more details on how we handle affiliate links, please see our Affiliate Disclosure.

Expert Review

Content on Karatology is reviewed by team members with direct knowledge of and experience in precious metals, jewelry standards, and assay practices. This review process ensures that our articles reflect real-world industry practices and not just theoretical knowledge. Our reviewers evaluate each piece for technical accuracy, practical relevance, and clarity before publication.

Corrections Policy

We take errors seriously. If we discover an inaccuracy in any published article or tool -- whether identified internally or reported by a reader -- we correct it promptly. Substantive corrections are accompanied by an update note at the top of the article indicating what was changed and when. Minor corrections such as typos or formatting adjustments may be made without a formal update note. If you believe you have found an error in our content, please contact us through our About page.

Affiliate Disclosure

Some pages on Karatology contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are always clearly identified and are never disguised as editorial recommendations. The presence of affiliate links does not affect our editorial judgment, and we never recommend a product or service solely because it offers an affiliate commission. We comply fully with FTC guidelines on affiliate disclosure, and every page containing affiliate links displays a clear disclosure before the first such link appears. For complete details, visit our Affiliate Disclosure page.

Calculator and Tool Disclaimers

Karatology provides interactive tools including a gold karat calculator, purity converter, and stamp decoder. These tools are designed for educational and informational purposes only. The values and outputs they produce are estimates based on current market data and standard purity assumptions. They are not appraisals, valuations, or guaranteed values, and should not be treated as such. Actual gold values depend on many factors including weight accuracy, exact alloy composition, dealer premiums, and current market conditions at the time of a transaction. Always consult a qualified professional for formal appraisals or valuations.

Update Cadence

Gold purity standards and regulations evolve over time, and so does our content. We periodically review all published articles to ensure they remain accurate and aligned with current industry standards, regulatory guidance, and market conditions. Articles that require updates are revised and republished with a new revision date. Our goal is to ensure that the information on Karatology remains a reliable reference regardless of when you access it.