916 Gold Explained: What the Stamp Means for Your Payout
If your jewellery is stamped 916, it is 22 karat gold — 91.6% pure. That single number determines most of what you will be paid, so it is worth understanding properly.
The maths behind 916
Pure gold is 24 karat. Twenty-two karat contains 22 parts gold out of 24, which is 91.6% — hence the stamp. The remaining 8.4% is usually copper and silver, added for hardness so the piece survives daily wear.
Your payout is therefore the 24K rate multiplied by 0.916, then multiplied by the weight in grams. A 10 gram 916 chain at a 24K rate of Rs. 300,000 per pawun is valued from the pure gold content, not the stamped weight of the alloy.
Common stamps and what they mean
- 999 or 24K — 99.9% pure, usually bars and coins.
- 916 or 22K — 91.6% pure, standard Sri Lankan jewellery.
- 875 or 21K — 87.5% pure, common in Middle Eastern pieces.
- 750 or 18K — 75% pure, common in European and diamond-set jewellery.
- 585 or 14K — 58.5% pure, common in imported and fashion pieces.
Why we still test stamped gold
A stamp is a claim, not a guarantee. Plated pieces are sometimes stamped, and older jewellery can be under-karated. Professional testing protects both sides and takes only a few minutes.
Be cautious of any buyer who refuses to test in front of you or who will not explain how the karat figure was reached.
Stones, clasps and non-gold parts
Gemstones, spring clasps and any non-gold components are excluded from the gold weight. A transparent buyer will show you the deduction and, where you prefer, return the stones to you.
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