22k, 18k and 14k: what the difference is worth in rupees

Two bangles can weigh exactly the same and still contain very different amounts of gold. The reason is purity, not size. This post shows what the karat number does to one weight at three common purities, so you can see what your own piece is made of before anyone tests it.

What the karat number actually means

Karat tells you how much of the metal is gold, and how much is other metal mixed in for strength and colour, usually copper or silver.

24k is gold with no alloy mixed in, close to 99.9 percent pure.
22k is 22 parts gold out of 24, or about 91.6 percent pure. This is the most common purity for Indian jewellery, and is often stamped 916.
18k is 18 parts gold out of 24, about 75 percent pure. Common in lighter, more decorative pieces and some diamond-set jewellery.
14k is 14 parts gold out of 24, about 58.3 percent pure. Less common in Indian jewellery, more often seen in imported or western-style pieces.

The alloy is the part that is not gold. It has no separate value to a gold buyer. Your payout is based on the gold content alone, not the total weight of the piece.

The same 10 grams, three purities

Take 10 grams of jewellery. The only question a gold buyer is answering is how much of those 10 grams is actually gold:

22k, 10 grams: about 9.16 g of gold, 0.84 g of alloy
18k, 10 grams: about 7.50 g of gold, 2.50 g of alloy
14k, 10 grams: about 5.83 g of gold, 4.17 g of alloy

Same weight, and the 14k piece holds a little over half the gold the 22k piece does. That gap is not a shop taking advantage of you. It is what the metal itself is once you strip out the alloy — and it is the gold, not the alloy, that the day's buying rate is applied to. The rate itself is on today's gold rate; the figure for your piece is worked out at the counter, in front of you, once it has been tested.

If you are unsure what karat your piece is, that is normal. Most people do not know until it is tested. This is exactly what the karatmeter reading is for, and you can read how a karatmeter reading is taken before you come in, so nothing at the counter feels unfamiliar.

Why the number on your receipt may still look different

The gold content above is what a buyer pays for. A few things still sit between that and the amount you actually walk out with:

The rate itself moves daily. What you saw in the news this morning is a benchmark, not a shop's buying rate. The difference is explained in why the gold rate in the news is not what you get paid.
Making charges are not returned. You paid for the labour and design when you bought the piece. That is not part of the gold's resale value, so it does not come back to you when you sell.
Stones and other attachments are not gold. If a piece has stones set into it, the shop weighs and pays for the gold only. We do not buy the stones themselves, so if a ring has a stone, expect that weight to be set aside before the gold calculation is done.

None of this is hidden math. Ask to see the karatmeter reading and the weight on the scale before you agree to anything. You can find a short list of things worth asking in five questions to ask any buyer before you hand over your gold.

If your gold box has mixed purities

Most homes do not have jewellery of a single karat. A 22k chain, an 18k pendant with stones, and an old 14k ring from a wedding abroad can all sit in the same box. Each piece is tested and weighed on its own. Do not average them in your head before you arrive. Bring everything, let each piece get its own karatmeter reading, and add up the individual numbers afterward. Sona ek jaisa dikhता है, par purity alag ho sakti hai, isलिए हर piece की testing ज़रूरी है.

If some of what you are bringing is broken, or a single earring without its pair, that does not change the purity math above, only the weight you are working with. See what broken pieces and single earrings are worth for how that is handled separately.

The takeaway

Purity, weight and the day's rate are the only three inputs that decide what your gold is worth. Once you know the karat, you know how much of your piece is gold before you ever step out of the house — and that is enough to walk in without guessing, and to recognise the same three numbers when they are written down for you at the counter.

How the karatmeter reading is taken ·

Questions people ask

Which is better to sell, 22k or 18k gold? 22k contains more gold per gram, so it pays more per gram. 18k is not worth less per gram of gold, it simply holds less gold. Both are bought on the measured purity.

Is 14k gold worth selling? Yes. It is about 58 percent gold and is paid for that content. It is worth less per gram than 22k, but it is not worthless.

How do I know what karat my piece is? The stamp is a claim; the karatmeter reading is the fact. Bring it in and watch the reading, or call 9217742656 with what the stamp says.

Why the published rate is not your payout