916
22-carat gold · 91.6% pure
916 means 22-carat gold: 91.6% pure gold, with only about 8% alloy. It's the gold of India, the Middle East and much of Asia — struck as “916” or “22K” — prized for its deep, rich yellow and its closeness to pure gold. The small amount of alloy makes it a little harder than pure gold, but 22-carat is still soft, so it's favoured for traditional and investment jewellery over stone-set rings.
Hallmark Translator
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Why 91.6%?
At 91.6% pure, 22-carat gold is about as pure as gold gets while still holding a shape. That high gold content gives it the deep, warm yellow prized across India, the Gulf and Southeast Asia, where gold is both adornment and a store of wealth.
The trade-off is hardness: with so little alloy, 22K is soft and scratches more easily than 18K or 14K, so it's less suited to rings with prongs holding stones. It's the standard for bangles, chains and wedding gold — pieces valued for their gold as much as their design.
Alloy 91.6% gold · ~8.4% copper and silver
And the standards around it
- 91622-carat
- 91.6% — deep yellow, prized across India and the Middle East; soft.
How 8 countries strike 916
The number means the same metal everywhere — but every country marks it differently. Some strike a national emblem beside it; others, like the United States, mark it in type alone. Tap a country for its full system.
Independent assay
Mandatory maker's mark
What people actually ask
Is 916 the same as 22K?
Yes. 916 is the millesimal (91.6% pure); 22K is the carat (22 parts gold in 24, which rounds to 916).
Is 916 gold pure gold?
Nearly — 91.6% pure. It's among the highest purities used for jewellery, just below 24-carat (999), which is pure gold.
Why is 22K gold so popular in India and the Middle East?
For its deep colour and its value: at over 91% pure, 22K gold is close to a store of wealth you can wear, which is why it's the standard for wedding and festival gold across the region.
Is 22K gold durable enough for daily wear?
It's softer than 18K or 14K and scratches more easily, so it's ideal for bangles and chains but less so for rings with stones. Worn gently, it lasts generations.
What is 22K gold worth?
91.6% of its weight is pure gold, so its melt value sits close to that of pure gold by weight, tracking the gold price.
A reference guide, not an authentication service. The same number can appear on different metals, and the mark beside it varies by country, date and maker — consult the relevant assay office or standards body for definitive identification.