In India, people purchase gold either for investment purposes or as jewellery. While purchasing gold, there are different karats of gold available in the market. Do you know the difference between 24k vs 22k gold? Among 24k vs 22k which is better for investment option? If you have these questions, read our complete guide on 24k vs 22k gold.
What Does Karat Mean?
Karat or k is the term used for measuring the purity of gold. The higher the karat value, the higher is the purity of gold. The measurement for gold purity is done on a scale from 0-24, where 24k gold is the purest you can buy.
Gold is a very soft metal in its pure state. It is mixed with other metals like copper, nickel, silver or palladium to strengthen its composition and make jewellery. In other words, karat can also be a measure of the ratio of gold to other metals.
What is 22K Gold?
22 karat gold contains 22 parts of gold mixed with two parts of other metals/alloys such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc. 22 karat gold is also known as 916 gold because it contains 91.67% pure gold. The texture of this gold is harder and more durable than 24k gold due to the traces of metal composition. As a result, 22k is used to make appropriate jewellery.
24 karat gold is also called pure gold as it contains 99.99% of pure gold. You should know that there is no higher form of gold other than 24k. Despite being the purest form of gold, why is it not 100% pure? This is because 100% gold is too delicate to maintain its shape or form at room temperature. Hence, the ore is extracted and processed until it reaches a purity level of 99.99%.
The 24k gold price in India fluctuates every day. Since 24k is the purest form of gold, it is more expensive than 22k or 18k gold. Therefore, 24k is suitable for investment purposes and not for making jewellery as it is too delicate.
Difference between 22k and 24k Gold Purity
The following table shows the differences between 24k and 22k gold –
Parameter
22K gold
24K gold
Purity
91.67% gold
99.9% gold
Purpose
Suitable for making jewellery due to other metals present in it, which makes it harder
Suitable for investment purposes as the gold is very soft
Usage
It is used in making jewellery and coins
It is used in medical and electrical devices application of pure gold 24k
Price
It is less expensive than 22k gold
The price of 24k gold is the highest
Durability
22k gold is more durable for making jewellery because of the presence of other metals, which makes jewellery more durable.
24k gold is brilliant in color but won’t be durable for making jewellery. It is too soft to resist wear and tear.
22K vs 24K – Which is Better Investment Option?
In India, people buy gold for investment purposes, emergency funds (or portfolio diversification) or jewellery. However, 24k gold will be the best option for investment because it is 99.9% pure gold. Even though 24k gold is not durable and scratches easily, it carries a bigger inherent value than 22k gold (only 91.67% gold). Therefore, while purchasing a 24k gold coin/bar, always check for hallmark certification to ensure its purity. Also, it is advisable to buy gold from BIS hallmarked jewellers to get the relevant value of gold when you sell it.
24K vs 22K – Which Karat Gold is best for Jewellery?
For making jewellery, 22k gold is more suitable. The reason is, 24k is in a pure state, and it is malleable. The jewellery made with 24k is so soft that it can be broken easily. Therefore, 22k gold is a better investment for jewellery as it is mixed with other metals like zinc, copper, silver, making it harder than 24k. Also, preferring jewellery in 22k helps to get a better value at the time of selling.
Furthermore, it also depends on the type of jewellery you want and how intricate the piece is. For such purposes, people prefer 14k or 18k gold when they want to wear jewellery every day or an intricate design. Sometimes, even 22k gold can be too soft to hold gems.
To Summarize
Buying gold depends on the purpose of investment. If you are buying gold for ornaments and investment, then 22k is more suitable. Consequently, if the investment is made in the form of jewellery or ornaments, it incurs making charges and wastage which will be deducted from the item. Thus, making jewellery or ornaments can cost you more.
On the other hand, those who sell only gold biscuits look for gross profit and prevailing gold prices. Therefore, if you are purchasing gold only for investment purposes, then 24k gold is suitable. Gold bars or gold coins are available in the purest form of gold. Also, it is advisable to purchase gold from BIS hallmarked jewellery to get its resale value in future.
Ans: In contrast to 22k gold, which contains 8.3% other metals like copper or silver and 91.7% gold, 24k gold is considered pure gold because it contains 99.9% gold. Due to its extreme malleability and softness, pure gold is less suitable for some jewellery applications where durability is an issue.
24 carat gold, being pure, is softer, while 22 carat strikes a balance with added alloys. For durable jewellery, 22 carat is often preferred, combining elegance with resilience.
22k gold is widely used to make regular jewellery and ornaments. Two parts of other alloys are mixed with 22 parts of gold which make the gold texture harder. This makes the jewellery durable and ideal for regular wear purposes.
Lower karats mean less gold; for example, 14-karat gold contains 58.3 per cent gold and 41.7 per cent other metals, such as silver or copper. 24-karat gold is pure gold containing no other metals. The reason why pure gold isn't used in jewelry making is because it is an extremely soft and malleable material.
In the case of jewelry, 22K is preferable. The reason is that 24K gold, in its pure state, is malleable and the jewelry made using this type of gold can be broken easily. Therefore, most of the people prefer 22K gold over 24K because it sometimes also helps them in getting better value at the time of selling.
Even with just 8% of alloyed metal, 22K gold is somewhat more durable and stronger than pure gold. However, as this combination is still the softest type of mixed metal jewelry, care must be made when wearing it. 22K gold is not the best type of gold to use when creating heavy-studded jewelry.
Yes you can buy 24 Karat and then turn it into 22 Karat while making jewellery. From customer point of view, it is the best way to invest in gold whenever one can and later use it in exchange / making of Ornaments. 22÷24=91.67 22 ÷ 24 = 91.67 out of 100 % is pure gold.
In its pure form, gold is a very soft metal. It's too delicate for everyday wear, so it's often alloyed (or mixed) with other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to improve its strength and resilience. The most common mixtures of gold are 14K, 18K, and 22K, but 14K and 18K are the most ideal for jewelry.
Since gold is relatively malleable, 24k gold is rarely used for jewelry that you might wear every day, like a wedding or engagement ring, since it's likely it would become misshapen. Adding an alloy like copper, iron, silver, zinc, or nickel makes it more affordable and much more durable and suitable for daily wear.
In the United States, gold is often alloyed with metals such as silver, copper, and zinc to strengthen it and make it more durable. These alloys can give the gold a more white or pale yellow appearance. However, in India, gold is often alloyed with copper and silver, which can give the gold a more yellow appearance.
Small weights (1-10 grams): This gold bar size tends to be suitable for investors with limited funds or those who prefer a more flexible investment approach. ...
Medium weights (10-100 grams): These gold bars offer a balance between affordability and potential for price appreciation.
Since gold has a malleability based on pureness, 24K gold is fairly soft. While it might not matter when you're using bricks of gold, this might not be the greatest option if you're looking into jewelry. If you're wearing a bracelet with 24K gold, you don't want it to bend out of shape if it is knocked about.
Disadvantages: While 24k gold is a pure metal, it's too soft and easy to scratch to be a practical choice of metal for jewelry you and your fiancé will wear often. Pure gold is very prone to scratching and deformation when worn as jewelry.
gold. What it also is, however, is highly malleable and soft for a metal. Gold is soft in comparison to other metals, meaning that a 24k gold ring, for example, is susceptible to changes in shape, scratches and is less durable than 14k or 18k gold.
Since 24k is the purest form of gold, it is more expensive than 22k or 18k gold. Therefore, 24k is suitable for investment purposes and not for making jewellery as it is too delicate.
In its pure form, gold is a very soft metal. It's too delicate for everyday wear, so it's often alloyed (or mixed) with other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to improve its strength and resilience. The most common mixtures of gold are 14K, 18K, and 22K, but 14K and 18K are the most ideal for jewelry.
24k being the most pure but the most delicate. 22k – slightly lesser purity but more durable than 24k. 18k – 75% pure comparatively more durable than the above types. 14k – 58% pure as an average value but way more durable than the 18k.
Durability and Strength: Due to its higher purity, 22K gold is softer and more malleable than 18K gold. This makes it more prone to scratching and bending, especially in intricate jewelry designs. On the other hand, 18K gold is more durable and resistant to wear and tear, making it a better choice for everyday wear.
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