Gold Karat Chart: 9K, 14K, 18K, 22K and 24K Explained

Gold karats can look confusing, with numbers like 916 and 750 floating around. This guide puts them all in one place and tells you what each is good for.

The karat chart

| Karat | Gold content | Hallmark fineness | Typical use | |---|---|---|---| | 24K | 99.9% | 999 | Coins, bars, very soft traditional pieces | | 22K | 91.6% | 916 | Traditional jewellery, bangles, chains | | 18K | 75% | 750 | Diamond and gemstone jewellery | | 14K | 58.5% | 585 | Everyday and fashion jewellery | | 9K | 37.5% | 375 | Light fashion jewellery, a voluntary grade in India |

If a table does not display well on your device, the same information is listed below.

• 24K is 99.9 percent gold, fineness 999.
• 22K is 91.6 percent gold, fineness 916.
• 18K is 75 percent gold, fineness 750.
• 14K is 58.5 percent gold, fineness 585.
• 9K is 37.5 percent gold, fineness 375.

How karats work

Pure gold is 24 karat. A karat figure tells you how many parts out of 24 are gold. 18K means 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals. Fineness gives the same information per thousand.

Hallmarking by karat

In India, mandatory BIS hallmarking applies to gold jewellery in the grades 14, 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24 karat, with HUID. A 9 karat grade is provided for in the standard and is voluntary. See whether hallmarking is mandatory for gold jewellery in India.

Which karat for what?

• 24K: best kept as coins or bars, since it is too soft for most jewellery.
• 22K: plain bangles, kadas and traditional pieces where softness is less of a concern.
• 18K: diamond rings, earrings, pendants and any piece with stones or fine detail. Read why in what 18K gold is and why diamond jewellery uses it.
• 14K: hard-wearing daily pieces where a lower gold content is acceptable.
• 9K: budget fashion pieces, less common in Indian fine jewellery.

Does a lower karat mean lower quality?

Not necessarily. A lower karat is a different material choice with different benefits: more strength, lighter colour and a lower gold content. What matters is that it is honestly marked and fairly priced for what it is.

Colour and karat

Higher karats look more strongly yellow. Rose and white gold are made by changing the alloy, and they can be made in 18K or 14K. See rose gold, white gold and yellow gold: how to choose.

Pure gold versus alloys

Every gold jewellery piece below 24K is an alloy. That is normal and necessary, as explained in why jewellery is not pure gold.

Questions people often ask

Can jewellery be made in 24K? Yes, but it is soft, so it is mostly used for coins, bars and a few traditional items rather than for everyday jewellery.

Is a higher karat always a better buy? Not always. The right karat depends on the piece. A diamond ring needs strength, while a plain bangle can use richer gold.

Does karat affect resale? Resale value follows gold content, so a higher karat holds more gold per gram. Making charges are usually not recovered, whatever the karat.

Choosing with confidence

Whichever karat you choose, look for the BIS mark, check the HUID and read the purity on the bill. Our necklaces and other categories list karat, weight and HUID on every page, and you can book a visit to compare grades in person.