Gold Karat Purity Guide
Gold purity is measured in karats (K) on a 0–24 scale. 24K is pure gold. Lower karats contain other metals for strength and durability.
Pure gold. Used in bullion, coins, and Asian jewelry.
Investment bars, coins, fine Asian jewelry
91.7% pure. Popular in India and the Middle East.
Indian bangles, Arabic jewelry, wedding sets
87.5% pure. Standard in Gulf countries.
Gulf region jewelry, Middle Eastern gold
75% pure. High-end jewelry worldwide.
Designer jewelry, watches, engagement rings
58.3% pure. Most popular in the US.
Everyday jewelry, rings, chains, bracelets
41.7% pure. Minimum legal 'gold' in the US.
Budget jewelry, class rings
37.5% pure. Common in the UK.
British jewelry, affordable gold pieces
How to identify your gold's karat
Look for hallmark stamps on the inside of rings, clasps of chains, or backs of pendants. Common stamps include 999, 916, 750, 585, 417, 375 - these represent the gold fineness in parts per thousand. You can also look for karat marks like 24K, 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K. For definitive testing, jewelers use acid tests or XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzers.
Karat vs Carat
Karat (K) measures gold purity - how much of the metal is pure gold. Carat (ct) measures the weight of gemstones, where 1 carat = 0.2 grams. Different words, different meanings. In some countries, 'carat' is used for both.
Gold-plated vs Gold-filled vs Solid Gold
Gold-plated items have a thin layer of gold (0.5–2.5 microns) over base metal. Gold-filled items have a thicker layer (at least 5% gold by weight). Solid gold is the same alloy throughout. Only solid gold items have significant melt value.
Gold Karat Purity Guide
What karat gold is best for jewelry?▾
18K offers the best balance of purity, durability, and beauty. 14K is best for everyday wear. 22K and 24K are preferred in South Asia and the Middle East.
Is higher karat always better?▾
Not necessarily. Higher karat gold is purer but softer and more prone to scratching. 14K and 18K are more durable for daily-wear jewelry.
Can you tell karat by looking at gold?▾
Color can give hints - 24K is deeper yellow, 14K is lighter - but the only reliable way is to check the hallmark stamp or have it tested.
What does 916 mean on gold?▾
916 means the gold is 91.6% pure, which is 22 karat. The number represents parts per thousand of pure gold content.
Is 9K gold real gold?▾
Yes, 9K gold contains 37.5% pure gold. It is legally recognized as gold in the UK and several other countries, though not in the US where 10K is the minimum.