What Is Karat in Gold? 22K, 18K and 24K Explained
Quick Takeaways
- 24K Gold: Best for investment purposes like coins and bars.
- 22K Gold: The traditional choice for bridal and everyday wear jewellery.
- 18K Gold: Recommended for diamond and gemstone-set jewellery for added strength.
If you're wondering what karat is in gold, the answer is simple. A karat measures how much pure gold is present in a piece of jewellery. 24K gold is 99.9% pure gold, 22K gold is 91.6% pure gold and 18K gold is 75% pure gold. For most traditional jewellery in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, 22K gold remains the preferred choice because it combines high gold purity with the durability needed for everyday wear.
Gold Karat Quick Comparison
What a Karat Actually Means
Gold in its pure form is naturally soft. If jewellery were made entirely from pure gold, it could bend, scratch and lose its shape more easily during regular use.
To make gold suitable for jewellery, it is mixed with small amounts of other metals. A karat tells you how much of that mixture is actual gold.
Think of it as a scale with 24 parts:
- 24K means 24 out of 24 parts are gold
- 22K means 22 out of 24 parts are gold
- 18K means 18 out of 24 parts are gold
- 14K means 14 out of 24 parts are gold
The higher the karat, the higher the gold purity.
This is why people searching for what is karat gold or what is karat in gold are really trying to understand how much pure gold is present in their jewellery.
Understanding 24K, 22K, 18K and 14K Gold
What Is 24 Karat Gold?
24K gold contains 99.9% pure gold and is the purest form of gold commonly available.
Many people assume higher purity automatically makes it the best choice for jewellery. In reality, pure gold is extremely soft. Because of this, 24K gold is generally used for coins and bars rather than wearable jewellery.
If you've ever asked, is 24K gold good for jewellery?, the answer is usually no. It is beautiful and highly pure, but not practical for most jewellery designs.
What Is 22 Carat Gold?
22K gold contains 91.6% pure gold.
This is the purity used for most traditional Indian jewellery, which is why it is often referred to as 916 gold.
Chains, bangles, necklaces, earrings, temple jewellery and bridal jewellery are commonly crafted in 22K gold.
At Goutham Jewellers, serving customers since 1978, 22K remains the purity most customers choose for traditional jewellery and family heirlooms.
What Is 18 Carat Gold?
18K gold contains 75% pure gold and is commonly marked with a 750 hallmark.
Because it is harder than 22K gold, it is often used for diamond rings, gemstone pendants and other stone-set jewellery.
What Is 14 Carat Gold?
14K gold contains 58.3% pure gold and is less common in traditional Indian jewellery.
It is more frequently used in certain designer and western-style jewellery collections.
What Does 916 Mean on Gold Jewellery?
One of the most common questions people ask is: What does 916 mean on gold?
The number 916 refers to the purity of the gold.
A 916 hallmark means the jewellery contains 91.6% pure gold, which corresponds to 22K gold. The number comes from expressing purity in parts per thousand. In simple terms, 916 out of every 1000 parts are pure gold.
This is why 916 gold and 22K gold mean the same thing.
Because 22K gold is the standard for traditional Indian jewellery, you'll find the 916 stamp on many chains, bangles, earrings and necklaces.
For a step-by-step guide on verifying a hallmark before purchase, read our guide on purchasing gold jewellery.
Difference Between 22K and 24K Gold
The difference between 22K and 24K gold comes down to purity and practicality.
24K gold contains 99.9% pure gold, making it the purest form available. However, it is too soft for most jewellery.
22K gold contains 91.6% pure gold along with a small percentage of other metals that improve durability. This makes it far more suitable for jewellery that is worn regularly.
For wearable jewellery, most buyers prefer 22K gold. For coins and bars, 24K gold is generally preferred.
Which Karat Gold Is Best for Everyday Wear?
One of the highest-intent questions buyers ask is: What karat gold is best for everyday use?
The answer depends on the type of jewellery.
For plain gold jewellery such as chains, bangles and earrings, 22K gold remains the preferred choice across much of South India.
In our experience at Goutham Jewellers, lightweight 22K chains, everyday studs and simple bangles continue to be among the most popular pieces purchased for daily wear.
For jewellery that contains diamonds or gemstones, 18K gold is often the better option because its harder alloy provides stronger support for stone settings.
If you're looking for jewellery designed for regular use, explore our daily wear jewellery collection.
Which Karat Is Right for Each Jewellery Type?
Bangles and Kadas
22K gold is generally the best choice for bangles and kadas. South Indian women have worn 22K bangles daily for generations, making it the traditional standard.
Chains and Harams
22K gold remains the preferred choice for chains and harams because these pieces are often worn for many years and are valued for their high gold content.
Explore our gold jewellery collection.
Rings
For plain gold rings, 22K works beautifully.
For diamond rings and gemstone rings, 18K is usually the better choice.
Earrings
Simple studs, jhumkas and traditional earrings are commonly crafted in 22K gold.
Stone-set earrings are often crafted in 18K gold.
Mangalsutra
Most traditional mangalsutras are crafted in 22K gold, but many modern couples are now exploring contemporary designs. If you're looking for something that beautifully blends tradition with modernity, take a look at a piece like this lab-grown diamond mangalsutra.
Temple and Antique Jewellery
Traditional South Indian jewellery such as antique necklaces, Lakshmi kasu designs, and heritage-inspired temple jewellery are predominantly crafted in 22K gold.
Which Gold Is Best for Wedding Jewellery?
For buyers wondering which gold is best for wedding jewellery, the answer is overwhelmingly 22K gold.
Across Tamil Nadu and much of South India, bridal and wedding jewellery is traditionally crafted in 22K gold. Long harams, kasu malas, bridal chokers, oddiyanams and vanki designs are most commonly made in 22K because of their rich appearance and high gold purity.
What Is KDM Gold?
Many older customers still ask about KDM gold.
KDM was not a gold purity grade. It was a manufacturing technique that used cadmium during the soldering process.
Today, buyers should focus on recognised hallmark purity standards such as 916 for 22K gold and 750 for 18K gold rather than KDM terminology.
Final Thoughts
Understanding gold karats helps you understand exactly what you're buying and wearing. Whether you're looking at 24K, 22K or 18K gold, each purity serves a different purpose. For most traditional jewellery in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, 22K continues to offer the best balance of purity, beauty and practicality.
