Key takeaways
- 24K = 99.9% gold (bars and coins). 22K = 91.6% gold (916), most South Asian and Gulf jewellery.
- Price per gram of 22K is about 0.916 × the 24K price.
- Alloy metals make 22K more durable for daily wear.
- For saving or investing, 24K bullion has the smallest gap between buy and sell prices.
- For jewellery you will wear, 22K is the usual choice; budget for making charges.
What is the difference between 22K and 24K gold?
Karat (K) measures purity out of 24 parts:
| 24K | 22K | |
|---|---|---|
| Gold content | 99.9% (999) or more | 91.6% (916) |
| Other metals | Almost none | About 8.4%, often silver and copper |
| Colour | Deep yellow | Warm yellow, slightly lighter |
| Durability | Soft, scratches and bends easily | Harder, holds shape |
| Typical use | Bars, coins, some plain chains | Bangles, necklaces, wedding sets |
| Common stamp | 999, 9999, 24K | 916, 22K, 22K916 (India) |
The World Gold Council says 24 carat is pure gold with no other metals, and that alloying gives gold more durability and can change its colour. Its sample 22K yellow alloy is about 91.7% gold with small amounts of silver, copper and palladium. Exact recipes vary by maker.
Why is 22K gold cheaper than 24K?
Because it has less gold in it. Dealers price 22K as a share of the 24K price:
22K price per gram ≈ 24K price per gram × 0.916
Example (for example, at $150 a gram for 24K): 22K is worth about $150 × 0.916 = $137.40 a gram in gold content. A 30 g 22K necklace holds 27.48 g of pure gold, worth $4,122 at that example price.
A jeweller’s shop price is higher than this because it adds a making charge (labour and design) and sales tax. In India, the India Bullion and Jewellers Association publishes separate daily rates for 999, 995 and 916 gold per 10 g, which is why you see separate 24K and 22K rates there too.
See today’s CAD rates side by side on the gold price by karat page.
Should you buy 22K or 24K gold?
- For saving or investing: 24K bars or coins. You pay for metal, not workmanship, and they are easier to resell close to market price. Royal Canadian Mint Gold Maple Leaf coins, for example, are 99.99% pure.
- For jewellery you will wear: 22K. It keeps its shape better than 24K, and it is the standard for South Asian and Gulf jewellery, so it matches family pieces.
- For gifts: a small 24K coin or bar keeps more of its value; a 22K piece is more personal. Both are common for Diwali, weddings and Eid.
- For rings with stones or daily wear in Canada: many buyers choose 18K or 14K for strength. See how much 14K or 18K gold is worth.
RemitBee Gold, our sponsor’s product coming in early 2027, will sell pure 24K gold from $10 at the live price, stored in an insured vault in Canada. Join the waitlist at gold.remitbee.com.
Which holds its value better when you sell?
Both are valued by their gold content when sold as scrap. A buyer pays a share of melt value for either. The difference is the making charge: you paid it on 22K jewellery, and buyers rarely pay it back. Plain 24K bullion has no making charge, so the gap between what you pay and what you get back is usually smaller.
Gold prices can go down as well as up. Past prices don’t predict future prices.
Before buying 22K jewellery abroad, compare per-gram prices with is gold cheaper in Dubai, India or Canada, and check the hallmark using how to tell if gold is real.
How do you check if gold is really 22K or 24K?
Look for the stamp. In India, a BIS hallmark shows the purity, such as 22K916, plus a six-character HUID code you can verify in the BIS CARE app. The BIS grades include 22K (916) and 24K (995). In Canada, a quality mark must come with a trademark. For certainty, ask a dealer for an XRF test.
To value a piece, enter its weight and karat in the gold value calculator and compare with today’s gold price by karat.