22K Gold Price Today

What 22K and 916 mean

22 karat gold is 22 parts gold to 2 parts other metal. 22 ÷ 24 is 91.67%, but the hallmark standard used in India, the UK and the Gulf is 916, meaning at least 916 parts per thousand of gold. That is why 22K jewellery is often called "916 gold" (more on the 916 meaning). This site prices 22K at a factor of 0.916, the hallmark minimum.

The remaining 8.4% is usually silver and copper, sometimes with a little zinc. More copper gives a slightly redder tone; more silver gives a paler yellow. Neither changes the gold value, which depends only on weight and fineness.

Hallmarks

• India: BIS logo, the grade 22K916 and a six-character HUID code. Hallmarking became mandatory in phases from June 2021, and the HUID from 1 April 2023. See the BIS hallmark guide.
• United Kingdom: 916 is one of the legal gold fineness marks, alongside a sponsor's mark and an assay office mark.
• Gulf states: pieces are commonly stamped 22K or 916, and Dubai's retail market quotes a separate 22K board rate every day.
• Coins: the British sovereign, the South African Krugerrand and the American Gold Eagle are all 22K (91.67%); the 1 oz Krugerrand and Eagle each contain one full troy ounce of gold, so they weigh about 33.93 g.

Durability and colour

The 8.4% alloy makes the metal noticeably harder than pure gold, enough for bangles, necklaces, earrings and filigree that will be worn daily for decades, while keeping the rich yellow colour buyers in South Asia and the Gulf prefer. It is still softer than 18K, so jewellers usually avoid 22K for thin claw settings that must grip diamonds. Expect light scratching on rings over time; a polish restores the surface without removing meaningful weight.

Where 22K is the standard

22K is the default jewellery purity in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, and among South Asian jewellers in the UK, Canada and the US. Wedding sets, bangles, mangalsutra chains and temple jewellery are almost always 22K. For city-level rates with Indian duty included, see gold rate in India; for the Gulf, see gold rate in the UAE.

How to price a 22K piece: worked example

Suppose 24K gold is US$133.00 per gram (illustrative) and you are buying a 24 g necklace with a making charge of US$8 per gram.

In India the same structure applies in rupees, with 6% duty already in the jeweller's rate and 3% GST on the whole invoice; the jewellery price calculator does that arithmetic. Always check whether the quoted weight is net gold or includes stones.

22K coins versus 22K jewellery

The same 22K alloy can cost very different amounts depending on form. A sovereign or Krugerrand is priced close to the value of its gold content plus a modest coin premium, and dealers buy it back near that value. A 22K bangle carries a making charge of anywhere from a few percent to over 20% for intricate handwork, which is not recovered on resale. If the goal is saving rather than wearing, coins or 24K bars lose less on the round trip.

Resale and exchange

Because 22K is so widely traded, it is easy to sell or exchange in any South Asian or Gulf market. Jewellers test it (usually by XRF) and pay on the gold content, then deduct a percentage; making charges are not refunded. Many Indian jewellers offer better terms on exchange for new jewellery than on cash buy-back, and hallmarked pieces with a valid HUID are valued with less dispute. Non-hallmarked pieces described as 22K may test lower, often around 20K to 21K, and will be paid at the tested purity.