Our rates panel shows both 22-carat and 24-carat gold prices every day, and the gap between them regularly confuses first-time buyers. Here is what the purity numbers actually mean, and which one suits your purpose.
What “karat” measures
Karat measures gold purity out of 24 parts. 24K gold is 99.9 per cent pure, while 22K gold is 91.6 per cent pure, with the remaining share made up of metals such as copper, silver or zinc added for strength. This is also why 22K gold is priced lower per gram than 24K — you are getting slightly less pure gold, alloyed with other metals.
Why jewellers mostly sell 22K
Pure 24K gold is very soft and prone to bending or losing its shape, which makes it a poor choice for jewellery that has to hold intricate designs or survive daily wear. 22K gold’s added metals make it harder and more durable, which is why most traditional gold jewellery — bangles, chains and bridal sets — is made from 22K rather than 24K gold.
Where 24K gold is used instead
24K gold is mainly bought as coins, bars or digital gold for investment purposes, where durability matters less than purity, and where buyers want the closest thing to pure gold for long-term value storage.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Is it BIS hallmarked? A valid hallmark confirms both the purity and that the jewellery meets Bureau of Indian Standards norms.
- What are the making charges? These are charged separately from the metal value and vary significantly between jewellers — always ask for this as a separate line item.
- Is GST included in the quoted rate? Gold jewellery attracts GST on both the metal value and making charges, so confirm whether a quoted price already includes it.
- Does the shop offer a buyback or exchange policy? This matters most if you think you might want to sell or exchange the piece later.
Rates shown on Deccan Bhoomi are indicative and vary by city and jeweller — always confirm the live rate with your dealer before finalising a purchase.
