In one line: 916 means 91.6% pure gold, which is 22 carat. 24 carat is close to pure gold, and 18 carat is 75% gold. The lower the number, the harder the metal and the lower the price per gram.
What 916 means
Purity is measured two ways. Carat counts out of 24, so 22 carat is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metal. Fineness counts out of 1,000, so the same metal is 916. A BIS hallmark prints both together, as 22K916.
The other 8.4% is other metals, commonly copper and silver. It is there on purpose: pure gold is soft, and a 22K bangle has to survive years of daily wear.
All six grades, priced today
BIS allows six purity grades on hallmarked gold jewellery under IS 1417:2016. The price column is the metal value per gram at today's IBJA rate, before making charges and 3% GST.
| Hallmark | Gold content | Per gram today | Usually used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24KS995 | 99.5% | ₹14,092 | Coins and some plain pieces. Too soft for most jewellery. |
| 23K958 | 95.8% | ₹13,568 | Rare. Some traditional plain jewellery. |
| 22K916 | 91.6% | ₹12,973 | Most Indian jewellery: chains, bangles, earrings, wedding sets. |
| 20K833 | 83.3% | ₹11,798 | Some jewellery that needs a little more strength. |
| 18K750 | 75.0% | ₹10,622 | Diamond and stone-set jewellery, lighter daily wear. |
| 14K585 | 58.5% | ₹8,285 | Budget and fashion pieces, rings that see hard use. |
Latest IBJA rate, checked 25 October 2026, 6:21 pm IST. Each grade is the IBJA 999 rate × its fineness.
22K vs 24K: which to buy
It depends on why you are buying.
- For wearing: 22K. It holds stones and clasps, keeps its shape and is what almost every Indian jeweller makes. Wedding sets, chains and bangles are nearly always 22K.
- For saving: 24K coins or bars. Each gram holds more gold, and the making charge is usually much lower than on designed jewellery, so less of your money goes into labour you will not get back when you sell.
A common mistake is comparing a 24K rate with a 22K bill and thinking the jeweller is cheap. Check which purity a quoted rate is for. Our gold rate page shows 24K, 22K and 18K side by side.
Where 18K and 14K fit
Diamond and stone-set pieces are often 18K, because the harder metal grips stones better. 14K is cheaper still and common in light, everyday rings. Both are real gold and both carry a BIS grade. When you resell or exchange them, you are paid for the gold content, so an 18K piece returns about 75% of the 24K value of its weight, before any deductions.
How to be sure of the purity
The number on a tag is a claim. The hallmark is the proof: the BIS logo, the purity mark and a six-character HUID you can check in the BIS Care app. Our hallmark and HUID guide walks through it. If you are pledging gold, lenders value it by purity too; see gold loan value per gram.
Sources
- Bureau of Indian Standards: Hallmarking FAQ, purity grades under IS 1417:2016 (bis.gov.in)
- India Bullion and Jewellers Association: published rates (ibjarates.com)
Questions people ask
What is the meaning of 916 gold?
916 means the gold is 91.6% pure: 916 parts of gold in every 1,000 parts of metal. It is the fineness number for 22 carat gold in a BIS hallmark, written as 22K916.
Is 916 gold the same as 22 carat?
Yes. 22 parts out of 24 is 91.67%, and the hallmark grade for 22 carat is written 22K916.
Which is better, 22K or 24K gold?
For jewellery, 22K, because pure gold bends and scratches easily. For coins or bars bought as savings, 24K, because you pay for more gold per gram and there is no making charge on design.
Why is 24K hallmarked as 995 and not 999?
The highest BIS grade for gold jewellery and artefacts is 24KS995. The 999 figure you see in rate tables is the bullion benchmark that IBJA publishes.
Is 18K gold real gold?
Yes. 18K is 75% gold, mixed with other metals for strength. It is a BIS hallmark grade, written 18K750, and it costs less per gram than 22K.