14K vs 18K vs 22K Gold: A Simple Buying Guide

Choosing gold for diamond jewellery? Start with three things: purity, suitability for the design and the complete price.

Here’s how to compare 14K, 18K and 22K gold—and check what you’re buying.

What Do 14K, 18K and 22K Mean?

Gold karat describes purity. Jewellery gold combines gold with other metals to achieve different colours and working properties.

Gold type	BIS purity marking	Gold content indicated by fineness
14K	14K585	58.5%
18K	18K750	75.0%
22K	22K916	91.6%

These markings are recognised in BIS’s official hallmarking guidance.

Karat and carat are different: gold karat measures purity; diamond carat measures weight.

How to Check Gold Purity

For jewellery carrying the current BIS gold hallmark, look for:

1. The BIS logo.

2. The purity marking, such as 18K750.

3. The six-character alphanumeric HUID, which identifies the hallmarked article.

The purity marking and HUID are separate parts of the hallmark. A “750” stamp alone is not the complete BIS hallmark.

Use “Verify HUID” in the BIS Care app to check the recorded details, then compare them with the jewellery and invoice. BIS explains HUID verification.

Gold hallmarking verifies the metal’s purity. It does not grade the diamonds.

Where to Check Current Gold Prices

The India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) publishes benchmark gold rates for different purities.

Check the latest IBJA gold rates and select:

• 585 when comparing 14K gold.

• 750 when comparing 18K gold.

• 916 when comparing 22K gold.

Read the date and units carefully. IBJA displays per-gram figures and historical tables quoted per 10 grams. Its published rates exclude GST and making charges.

These are reference rates, not a guaranteed retail jewellery price. Ask your jeweller which rate applies to your quotation and when it was fixed.

How Is the Gold Cost Calculated?

A basic starting point is:

Net gold weight × quoted rate per gram for that purity = gold component

For example, if a piece contains 4 grams of 18K gold, multiply those 4 grams by the quoted 18K rate.

Use the net gold weight rather than the gross weight that includes diamonds or other stones. If the quoted rate already applies to 18K gold, do not multiply it by 75% again.

The complete jewellery price may also include diamonds, making charges, other disclosed charges and applicable taxes.

Which Gold Should You Choose?

14K: Worth considering for suitable everyday designs when you want a lower gold component cost.

18K: A higher-gold-content option used in many diamond jewellery designs.

22K: Contains more gold and is used in traditional jewellery and certain diamond settings where the design supports it.

The alloy, construction and setting matter alongside purity. Higher karat does not automatically mean a more durable ring.

Yellow, white and rose describe colour—not proof of purity. Likewise, 14K gold can be used for diamond settings; suitability depends on the particular design and manufacturing method.

Compare Gold Options with Glora Diamonds

Explore Glora’s engagement rings and Closed Chettinad Diamond Earrings, then check the gold options available for your selected piece.

Ask the team to confirm the purity, net gold weight, applicable rate, diamond specifications and complete price.

Visit Glora Diamonds Chennai at 31, Govindu Street, North Usman Road, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600017, or explore Bangalore consultation options.

WhatsApp Glora Diamonds for a detailed quote.