Understanding Gold Purity: 24K, 22K, 18K and 14K Explained

Gold in its purest form is 24 karat — 99.9% or higher gold content, marked as 999 or 999.9 on bars and coins. Because pure gold is very soft, it's rarely used for everyday jewellery on its own; it's more common in investment bars and coins, where purity rather than durability is the priority.

22K gold is 91.6% pure, with the remaining ~8.4% made up of alloy metals such as copper, silver or zinc. This is a popular choice across South Asian and Middle Eastern jewellery markets for its rich colour and high gold content, while still being durable enough for rings, bangles and necklaces worn daily.

18K gold is 75% pure gold. The higher alloy content makes it noticeably more scratch-resistant than 22K, which is why it's widely used for diamond-set and gem-set jewellery, where the setting needs to hold stones securely over years of wear.

14K gold is 58.3% pure. It's the most durable of the common karats and a popular choice in markets where jewellery is expected to withstand heavier daily wear, though it has a noticeably paler colour than 18K or 22K.

None of these purities is objectively 'better' — the right choice depends on what the piece is for. A bar you intend to hold as an investment should be as close to 999.9 as possible. A ring you'll wear every day for a decade benefits from the added durability of a lower karat. Scrap and pre-owned gold brought in for sale or valuation is sent to certified test centres for an authenticity and purity report before any offer is confirmed.

When you buy from us, every piece is marked with its purity, and we're happy to walk you through what that means for care, resale value, and day-to-day wear.