24K vs 22K vs 18K Gold — Purity Explained
What karat and fineness mean, and which purity to buy for jewellery, coins or investment.
Rates as on 29 September 2026 · Updated 29 September 2026Overview
Gold purity in India is expressed in karats (K) and fineness (parts per thousand). Pure gold is 24 karat, but it is too soft for most jewellery, so it is alloyed with copper, silver or zinc. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recognises specific grades for hallmarking, and the rate you see for each karat is directly proportional to its gold content.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Purest grade | 24K (999 / 995 fineness) |
| Most common jewellery | 22K (916) — “916 gold” |
| Diamond / studded jewellery | 18K (750) or 14K (585) |
| BIS hallmark grades | 24K, 23K, 22K, 20K, 18K, 14K and 9K |
| Rate relation | 22K ≈ 95.2% and 18K ≈ 77.9% of the 24K rate (snapshot) |
Karat, fineness and gold content
| Karat | Fineness | Gold content | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999 / 995 | 99.9% / 99.5% | Coins, bars, investment |
| 23K | 958 | 95.8% | Traditional jewellery (limited) |
| 22K | 916 | 91.6% | Most Indian jewellery |
| 20K | 833 | 83.3% | Some regional jewellery |
| 18K | 750 | 75.0% | Diamond & studded jewellery |
| 14K | 585 | 58.5% | Light, durable daily-wear |
| 9K | 375 | 37.5% | Budget jewellery (hallmarked grade since 2025) |
Which purity should you buy?
24K coins/bars (999) or paper gold — no making charge on ETFs/SGBs.
22K (916) — best balance of purity and durability.
18K holds stones securely and is scratch-resistant.
14K or 9K costs much less but resale value is proportionally lower.
How to calculate the value of each karat
Value = weight (g) × 24K rate × (fineness ÷ 999). For example, at a 24K rate of ₹14,800/g, 22K is worth about ₹14,095/g and 18K about ₹11,532/g in the current snapshot — jewellers publish their own rates for each karat daily.
Frequently asked questions
What is 916 gold?
22-karat gold with 91.6% gold content — the most common hallmarked purity for Indian jewellery.
Why can’t jewellery be 24K?
24K is too soft and bends or scratches easily; stones cannot be set securely.
Is 18K gold real gold?
Yes. It contains 75% gold and is BIS-hallmarkable.
Gold rates are indicative market references (29 September 2026) and change during the day. Rules on tax, hallmarking and investment products can change — verify with official sources. FinancePortal does not sell gold.