What Does 22K 916 Mean on Gold?
The number 916 on a piece of gold jewellery means it is 22-carat gold: 91.6% pure gold, with the rest made up of other metals such as copper, silver or zinc. It is the most common purity for jewellery in India.
Carat and fineness
Gold purity can be written two ways. The carat (K) system divides a piece into 24 parts: 24K is all gold, 22K is 22 parts gold out of 24. Fineness writes the same thing as parts per thousand, which is what the hallmark shows. 22 ÷ 24 = 0.9166, which is rounded to 916.
| Carat | Hallmark number | Gold content | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999 / 995 | 99.9% / 99.5% | Coins, bars |
| 23K | 958 | 95.8% | Some traditional jewellery |
| 22K | 916 | 91.6% | Most Indian jewellery |
| 20K | 833 | 83.3% | Some regional jewellery |
| 18K | 750 | 75% | Diamond and stone jewellery |
| 14K | 585 | 58.5% | Light, everyday jewellery |
Why jewellery is not made in 24K
Pure gold is very soft. A 24K chain bends and scratches easily, and stones do not stay firmly in place. Mixing in a small amount of other metal makes 22K strong enough for necklaces, bangles and earrings while keeping the deep yellow colour Indian buyers prefer. 18K is harder still, which is why diamond rings are usually 18K.
How purity changes the price
The price of each purity is roughly its share of the 24K price. If 24K gold costs ₹14,000 per gram, 22K is about 14,000 × 22 ÷ 24 = ₹12,833 and 18K is about 14,000 × 18 ÷ 24 = ₹10,500. Today's figures are on the gold rate page.
What "22K916" on a hallmark looks like
Modern Indian hallmarks have three marks: the BIS logo, the purity grade written as karat plus fineness (for example 22K916), and a six-character HUID code that identifies the individual piece. See how to check a hallmark.