Walk into any gold buyer in Chennai and you will hear "22K" and "24K" constantly. If you are unsure what these mean, this guide explains it clearly — and shows exactly how karat affects the cash you receive.
What Does "Karat" Mean?
Karat (K) measures gold purity. Pure gold is 24 karats. The number tells you how many parts out of 24 are actual gold:
- 24K = 999 purity = 99.9% gold — coins, bars, investment-grade
- 22K = 916 purity = 91.6% gold — standard Indian jewellery; 8.4% silver/copper for durability
- 18K = 750 purity = 75% gold — diamond-set and designer jewellery
💡 Most Indian jewellery bought from shops is 22K (916). If you bought a chain, bangle, or necklace from a standard jeweller, it is almost certainly 22K unless specified otherwise.
How Karat Affects Your Payout
Payout is based on actual gold content, not total weight. The formula: Weight × (Karat ÷ 24) × Today's 24K Rate
Example — 10 grams of 22K gold at ₹7,800/gram (24K rate):
- Gold content = 10 × (22/24) = 9.167 grams of pure gold
- Payout = 9.167 × ₹7,800 = ₹71,500 approx
How Do I Identify My Gold's Karat?
Look for a stamp: 916 = 22K · 999 = 24K · 750 = 18K · 585 = 14K. If no stamp is visible (common in older jewellery), we test purity with our XRF machine — no acid, no damage to your gold.
Is 24K Better to Sell?
It fetches a higher per-gram rate because it is purer. But almost all wearable Indian jewellery is 22K. What matters most is getting the correct rate for whatever karat your gold actually is — which requires honest, transparent testing.
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