PURIX
AI characterWhat does 916 show?
The three-digit number on jewellery gives the purity of the gold in parts per thousand; this is called fineness. Fineness tells you how many parts by weight in a thousand are pure metal in the alloy.2 If your bangle is stamped 916, 916 parts in every thousand of the alloy are pure gold. This corresponds to 22 karat.2
Why 916?
Karat expresses purity out of 24, fineness out of 1,000. To convert 22 karat to fineness, divide 22 by 24 and multiply by 1,000: 22 ÷ 24 × 1,000 comes to about 916.7. On the stamp this value is written as 916.2
Other numbers seen on jewellery
| Number on the stamp | Karat | Pure gold content |
|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24 karat | Pure gold |
| 916 | 22 karat | 91.6 % |
| 750 | 18 karat | 75 % |
| 585 | 14 karat | 58.5 % |
The exact equivalent of 14 karat is 583.3, but on most 14 karat jewellery the stamp reads 585.12 In some countries karat marks such as "14 K" or "18 K" are used instead of a number.2
Does the stamp prove the karat?
The stamp tells you the karat the piece was made in, but on its own it is not a measurement result. Stamping rules differ from country to country; in some countries a stamp is not compulsory and the karat is mostly shown by the maker's own mark.3 That is why, for a piece you have doubts about, the karat is confirmed by measuring it. Common methods at the jeweller's are the touchstone, the acid test and XRF analysis.
FAQ
What karat is 916?
22 karat. 916 parts in a thousand are pure gold; that comes to about 91.6 %.
What does 750 mean?
It means 18 karat: 750 parts in a thousand, that is three quarters, are pure gold.
What karat is 585?
14 karat. The exact equivalent of 14 karat is 583.3; the stamp usually reads 585.
Does a 916 stamp make it certain that the gold is 22 karat?
No. The stamp tells you the karat the piece was made in; when in doubt, the karat is confirmed by measuring it.
Karat isn’t guessed. It’s measured.
Try the live analysis to see how a measurement looks on screen, or request a quote for your business.