Both are real gold. The difference is how much of each gram is gold, and what that does to price, strength and use.
Last reviewed: 13 November 2026
Karat, written with a K, is a measure of purity. Pure gold is 24 karat. A karat number tells you how many parts out of 24 are gold, so 24K is 24 parts gold and nothing else. 22K gold is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metals, usually copper, silver or zinc. As a percentage, 22K is 91.6% gold, which is why jewellers in many countries stamp it with the number 916. 24K is stamped 999 or 9999, for 99.9% or 99.99% pure.
Do not confuse karat with carat, which measures the weight of diamonds and other gemstones. They sound the same but are unrelated.
Pure gold is a very soft metal. A 24K ring or bangle will bend and scratch easily, and a stone set in it may not be held firmly. Mixing in other metals makes gold harder and more durable without changing its look dramatically. That is why most jewellery is 22K, 21K or 18K. The extra metals also change the colour: more copper gives a warmer, reddish tone, and more silver a paler yellow.
So 24K gold is a good choice when strength does not matter: bars, coins, and a few traditional pieces that are worn lightly or kept as savings. For daily wear, many people choose 22K, which keeps most of the purity and is firm enough for ordinary jewellery. Some prefer 21K or 18K for pieces that will be handled a lot or hold stones.
The price of the gold in a piece is directly proportional to its purity. Take the 24K price per gram and multiply it by the karat divided by 24. 22K is 22 ÷ 24, or about 91.7% of the 24K price. If 24K costs 100 per gram, the gold in 22K is worth about 91.67 per gram, and the gold in 18K, which is 75% pure, is worth 75. Our 22K gold price and 24K gold price pages do this calculation live for your currency.
But the price you pay is more than the gold. The making charge is often a percentage of the gold value, so a more intricate piece costs more regardless of karat. Tax applies as well. A 22K piece can therefore cost more per gram than 24K bullion even though the gold in it is worth less, because of the labour and design. For this reason you should compare gold value to total price, not only the price per gram. Our guide to jewellery pricing has a worked example.
For a pure investment, 24K bars and coins are the usual choice. They are priced close to the spot price, with a smaller premium than jewellery, and they are easy to value and resell because the purity is standard and the weight is exact. Jewellery carries making charges that you will generally not recover when you sell, since a buyer pays for the gold and not the craftsmanship. If you are mainly buying gold as savings, that is a strong argument for bullion. If you are buying jewellery you will actually wear, and it also holds value as gold, 22K is a sensible balance in many markets.
It depends on how you use it. Wedding sets and heirloom pieces that are worn occasionally are often 22K or even 24K in some traditions. Rings, bracelets and everyday chains often last better in 21K or 18K. If a piece has stones, the setting needs to be firm, which favours lower karats. There is no single best karat. Choose based on the wear, the look you like, and what is normal where you live. The favourite karat differs by market, and you can see it on each country page or in our gold price by karat guide.
When you sell or exchange gold, the buyer values it by its purity and weight. Higher purity means a higher value per gram, but a buyer will want to test it, and may deduct a percentage for testing and melting. A piece with a clear hallmark and a receipt is easier to sell. Keep documents from the original purchase. Learn how to read the marks in our purity guide.
You can, but it will show wear quickly. Pure gold is soft, so rings, bangles and chains scratch, bend and lose shape faster than 22K or 18K. Many people keep 24K pieces for occasions, and wear a firmer karat daily.
Yes. 22K is 91.6% gold, with the rest being metals such as copper or silver that make it stronger. It is solid gold, not plated, and it is the everyday standard in many countries.
Yes. The mix of other metals affects the tone. More copper gives a warmer, reddish look, while more silver gives a paler yellow. 24K has the deepest, richest yellow, and lower karats look slightly lighter.
Resale value follows the weight and purity of the gold, so higher purity is worth more per gram. But jewellery also carries making charges you will not recover, which is why many buyers keep bullion for savings and choose jewellery for wear.
