In game lighting and the inspect animation change how karambit skins look compared to any static image. Dopplers shift color depending on the angle which makes them a lot more dynamic in play. Fades are consistent which is part of why they stay popular. The wear level matters more on some patterns than others and that is worth checking before buying.
Visit website to go through the full breakdown of karambit skin options with details on what each one actually looks like across different floats. Useful for narrowing down the choice before spending that kind of money on a knife