Gold Identifier
The Short Answer
916 means 91.6% pure gold, which is 22 karat. Yes, it is real gold, and high-purity gold at that, second only to 24K among commonly sold jewelry.
Where the Number Comes From
Karat is a fraction of 24. So 22 karat is:
22 ÷ 24 = 0.91666… = 91.6%
Rounded to three digits in the millesimal system, that becomes 916. Some pieces are stamped 917 instead, rounding up rather than down: both mean 22K, and the difference is a rounding convention, not a difference in metal.
The remaining 8.4% is alloy: typically copper and silver, sometimes with a trace of zinc. That small amount of alloy is what makes 22K workable into jewelry at all; pure 24K is too soft to hold a shape under daily wear.
Why 916 Dominates South Asian and Gulf Jewelry
In much of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, gold jewelry serves two purposes at once: it is worn, and it is savings. A family buying a bridal set is also storing wealth in a portable, liquid form.
That dual role pushes purity up. The higher the karat, the closer the resale value tracks the gold price, and the less you lose to alloy content when you sell back. 22K is the practical ceiling: high enough that the metal value dominates, durable enough to survive being worn.
By contrast, in the US and UK, jewelry is bought primarily as adornment, which favors the harder, cheaper 14K and 9K alloys. It is the same market logic pointing in a different direction. Our karat guide compares them all.
916 in the BIS Hallmarking System
India's Bureau of Indian Standards runs a mandatory hallmarking scheme for gold jewelry. Since 2021, a compliant piece carries three marks:
- The BIS logo: a triangular mark.
- The purity grade: written as "22K916" for 22 karat, "18K750" for 18 karat, "14K585" for 14 karat.
- A six-digit alphanumeric HUID: a Hallmark Unique Identification code unique to that individual item, traceable in the BIS database.
If you have Indian jewelry bought after mid-2021 that is stamped 916 but carries no BIS logo and no HUID, ask the seller why. It may predate the rule or be exempt, but it is a reasonable question.
What 916 Gold Is Worth
Melt value is weight × 0.916 × spot price per gram. At a spot price of $2,400 per troy ounce, which is $77.16 per gram:
| Weight | Pure gold content | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 g | 0.916 g | $71 |
| 10 g | 9.16 g | $707 |
| 1 tola (11.66 g) | 10.68 g | $824 |
| 1 sovereign (8 g) | 7.33 g | $566 |
Retail prices sit above this because of making charges: the jeweler's fee for design and craftsmanship, typically 8–25% of the metal value and often higher for intricate work. Making charges are largely non-recoverable when you sell back, which is the main reason buy-back offers feel low. Our valuation guide works through the full arithmetic.
How to Spot a Fake 916 Stamp
916 is the most-counterfeited gold mark in the world, simply because it is the most common in high-volume markets. Warning signs:
- A shallow, uneven or scratched-looking stamp. Genuine hallmarks are struck cleanly and consistently.
- 916 with no BIS logo or HUID on Indian jewelry sold after mid-2021.
- The piece is too hard. 22K is soft. If it is springy, rigid, or resists a fingernail completely, be suspicious.
- The color is too pale. 22K has a deep, rich yellow. A pale, brassy tone stamped 916 is a contradiction.
- It weighs too little for its size. Gold is dense: 916 gold has a specific gravity of about 17.7 to 17.8.
- Wear-through at edges and high-friction points revealing a whiter metal underneath: the signature of plating.
- A price meaningfully below the day's gold rate. Nobody sells 22K below spot.
The definitive checks are an acid test or a jeweler's XRF scan. See eight ways to check if your gold is real.
916 Compared to Other Marks
| Mark | Karat | Gold % | Relative melt value per gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% | 109% of 916 |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% | 100% |
| 875 | 21K | 87.5% | 96% |
| 750 | 18K | 75.0% | 82% |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% | 64% |
| 375 | 9K | 37.5% | 41% |
The full list of marks and country symbols is in our hallmark identification guide.
Should You Buy 916?
If you want jewelry that holds close to its metal value, 916 is an excellent choice: high purity, deep color, and universally recognized in the markets where it is standard. If you want a ring you will wear daily for decades without visible wear, 18K or 14K will hold up better. It is a trade between value retention and durability, and there is no wrong answer, only the right one for how you intend to use the piece.
Check Your Hallmark in the App
Photograph the stamp and Gold Identifier explains what it means and what the piece is worth at today's rate. Free on iPhone and Android.