When we hear jewellers or gold traders selling 24 carat, 22 carat gold coins or 20 carat, 18 carat gold jewllery, the first thing that always comes to mind is “What exactly does the 21, 22 or 24 carat mean? or what’s the difference between different types of gold?”
24 Carat Gold
Gold is deemed to be in its purest form at 24 carats. 24 carat simply means that the gold is 99.90% pure or higher, so the maximum amount of impurities (other metal) it may contain is 0.10% or less. Pure gold or 24 carat gold signifies 99.9 percent purity and it doesn’t contain any other metals. The 24 carat gold is used to make gold coins, bars, etc. Various other purities for gold also exist and are measured in relativity to 24 carats.
22 Carat Gold
The 22 carat purity gold is ideal for jewellery making. 22 carat gold will contain 91.60% pure gold alloyed (mixed) with other metals like silver, copper, etc. It is 22 parts gold and two parts silver, nickel or any other metal. The mixing of other metals makes gold more stiff and appropriate for jewellery. The 22 carat gold often reflects 91.67 of gold purity.
This difference in purity further dictates gold prices in the market where jewelers sell and buy the gold.
22 Carat and 24 Carat Gold Difference Summary
24 Carat Gold | 22 Carat Gold |
---|---|
It is the purest form of gold and contains 99.5% of the precious yellow metal. | It has 91.6% parts of pure gold. Rest of the parts are metals such as silver, copper, or some others. |
It is quite soft, pliable, brittle, and bendable. | It has a hard texture and thus cannot be easily moulded or bended. |
It is mostly used in medical and electrical equipment including computers, phones, and more. | It is relatively inexpensive due to lesser percentage of pure gold. |
This is the most expensive form of gold. | It is mostly used for making jewellery, bars, bullions, and coins. |
It is bright yellow in colour. | It is usually tainted due to the presence of other metals. |
Purity of Gold by Gold
So, how pure is my gold? Below is the table explaining carat against gold purity percentage based on Indian Hallmark standards.
Carat | Hallmark Standard | Purity of Gold in % |
---|---|---|
24 Carat | 999 | 99.9% or higher |
22 Carat | 916 | 91.6% |
21 Carat | 875 | 87.5% |
20 Carat | 833 | 83.3% |
18 Carat | 750 | 75.0% |
15 Carat | 625 | 62.5% |
14 Carat | 583 | 58.3% |
12 Carat | 500 | 50.0% |
10 Carat | 417 | 41.7% |
09 Carat | 375 | 37.5% |
08 Carat | 333 | 33.3% |
06 Carat | 250 | 25.0% |
Gold Carat Difference – FAQs
How 22k and 24k Gold is Different from Each Other?
All 18k, 24k and 22k gold signify the purity of gold. 18Kgold is 75% pure gold and 25% is alloyed with other metals like silver or copper. 18k gold is being used in studded or diamond jewellery. It is less expensive than 22k or 24k gold.
22K gold is mostly used in jewellery making. It is 91.67% is pure gold and remaining percentage is a combination of metals like nickel, zinc or other alloys. Jewellery made of this gold is durable as the mixture of other metals makes the texture of gold harder.
24K is the purest gold hence it is 100% gold. It is 99.9% pure and doesn’t blend with any other metal. Owing to its purity, this gold is expensive than the rest. However, it is lower in density.
What is 999.9 purity Gold and Silver?
999.9 is the purest form of Gold. This means that your product contains at least 99.99% Gold. In India anything that is above 995 purity is considered 24K.
What is hallmarking of gold?
Hallmarking is the official marking of precious metals by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), as a guarantee of their fineness or purity. It provides a third-party assurance and satisfaction of quality to both the seller as well as the buyer. BIS is the National Standard Body of India that has a standardised hallmark system for gold as well as silver jewellery sold in India. This system or the BIS Hallmarking Scheme has been aligned with International criteria on hallmarking. The principal objective of the Hallmarking Scheme is to protect the buyer from adulteration and to obligate manufacturers to maintain legal standards of fineness. The gold is checked in one of the assaying centres in the country.
What Is The Difference Between Karat And Carat?
Karat is a measure associated with purity of gold with 24 karat or 24K being the purest form of gold. While, carat is the term used for measuring weight of a gem or precious stone with one carat being equivalent to 200 milligrams.