Jewelry IdentifierWhat Does 22K Mean on Jewelry?
22K means 22-karat gold — 91.6% pure gold.
- Metal
- Gold
- Purity
- 91.6% pure gold
- Fineness
- 916/1000
- Karat / type
- 22K
- Also written as
- 916, 0.916
- Commonly on
- Indian & Middle Eastern gold, bridal, investment pieces
A 22K stamp means 22-karat gold — 22 parts gold out of 24, or 91.6% pure. It's soft and richly yellow, the traditional choice for wedding and investment jewelry in India and the Middle East. The millesimal equivalent stamp is 916.
What is a 22K piece worth?
22K is very high purity with strong melt value (~$88/gram at ~$3,000/oz), favored where gold content matters more than hardness.
How to verify a 22K stamp
Verify high-karat gold carefully — scan the 22K stamp with the Hallmark Reader and test with the Is It Real? tool. Anyone can stamp a mark on metal, so a hallmark alone isn't proof — the fastest way to check is to photograph the stamp and run it through the free Hallmark Reader, then confirm the metal itself with the Is It Real? tool. For a full picture of what your piece is worth, get a free jewelry appraisal. To compare 22K with every other mark side by side, see the full jewelry stamps and markings chart.
Frequently asked questions
Not sure what your jewelry really is?
Scan the stamp with the free Hallmark Reader, or get an instant value estimate — no sign-up needed.