Many South African families own 22ct gold jewellery bought in India or from Indian jewellers here: wedding sets, bangles, mangalsutras, chains and gifts passed down through generations. 22ct gold is valuable, and it is priced differently from the 9ct and 18ct jewellery most local buyers see every day. This guide explains how 22ct gold is valued, what affects your offer, and how to make sure you are paid for the gold you actually have.
What does 22ct mean?
Gold purity is measured in carats out of 24. 22ct gold is 22 parts gold out of 24, or about 91.6% pure gold. That is why 22ct jewellery is often stamped 916 or 22K. The other 8.4% is usually copper, silver or zinc, which makes the gold harder and more durable. Purity is also written as fineness, in parts per thousand (fineness), so 916 and 22ct mean the same thing.
For comparison, 18ct is 75% gold and 9ct is 37.5% gold, so a gram of 22ct contains much more gold than a gram of 9ct. You can see today’s spot value per gram for each carat on our live gold price page.
How to read an Indian hallmark
Since 1 July 2021, hallmarked gold jewellery sold in India carries three marks under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) system: the BIS logo, the purity grade (for example 22K916), and a six-digit alphanumeric HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) code. You can read more on the BIS hallmarking page. Older pieces may have different or no marks at all.
A hallmark is a good sign, but it is not proof on its own. Stamps can wear away, and older or handmade pieces are sometimes a lower purity than the stamp suggests. That is why we test every item with our XRF analyser, which reads the actual metal content in seconds without scratching, filing or using acid.
What affects the value of 22ct jewellery
Gold weight, not total weight
Your offer is based on the weight of the gold itself. Many Indian pieces contain things that are not gold:
- Stones and kundan settings, which add weight but are not gold.
- Meenakari (enamel) work, which adds a thin layer of non-gold material.
- Wax, lac or resin filling inside hollow bangles and some necklaces, used to give them shape and strength.
- Beads, threads and black beads on mangalsutras and some chains.
We estimate or remove these from the weight so that you are paid for the gold content. We explain each deduction to you before you decide.
Making charges are not part of the resale value
When you buy jewellery, the price usually includes making charges for the design and workmanship. When you sell gold by weight, the buyer pays for the gold content, so making charges are not recovered. This is normal everywhere and is why a selling price is usually lower than what you paid in the shop.
Purity confirmed by testing
We test each piece and pay on the purity we measure. If a piece stamped 22ct tests lower, we’ll show you the reading on the analyser screen.
How your offer is worked out
- We weigh your items on our scales in front of you.
- We test the purity of each item with our XRF analyser.
- We work out the gold content (gold weight multiplied by purity).
- We apply the day’s gold price and show you the offer and how we calculated it.
We do not deduct any commission or evaluation fees, and our written offer holds for 24 hours. There is no obligation to sell. Read more about selling 22ct gold.
Tips before you sell
- Keep sets together and bring any receipts or certificates you have.
- Decide in advance which pieces have sentimental value. You don’t have to sell everything.
- Don’t try to remove stones yourself, as this can damage the gold.
- Bring your ID or passport and proof of address. The Second-Hand Goods Act requires every buyer to record these.
- Ask for the purity reading and weight of each item, and make sure you understand any deductions.
Where to sell 22ct gold
You can visit our Alberton or Springs branches, book an appointment at our Sandton or Cape Town offices, or sell by insured courier from anywhere in South Africa. For larger family collections, see our Private Clients & Estates service.
