What Is 22kt Gold, and Why Do South Asian Families Choose It?

What “22kt” means

Gold purity is measured in karats, out of 24. 22kt gold is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metals, which makes it about 91.6% pure gold. That is why you will often see 22kt jewelry stamped “916”.

Why not 24kt?

Pure 24kt gold is very soft. It bends and scratches easily, so it is mostly used for bars and coins. The small amount of alloy in 22kt gives jewelry the strength to be worn every day and handed down, while keeping gold’s rich, warm color.

22kt compared with 18kt and 14kt

• 22kt: about 91.6% gold. Deep yellow color, and most of its value is in the gold itself.
• 18kt: 75% gold. Harder and slightly paler, often used for diamond and stone settings.
• 14kt: about 58% gold. Hard-wearing and lighter in color, common in Western jewelry.

Why families choose it

In many South Asian families, 22kt gold is given for weddings, births and festivals. It is worn, treasured and passed from one generation to the next, and because it is mostly gold, it also keeps its value as a family asset.

How our 22kt pieces are priced

Most of our 22kt jewelry is priced by its gram weight at the current gold rate, so the price follows the gold market. If you have questions about a piece, its weight or its price, our team is happy to explain.