916 is a fineness stamp. It means the metal is 91.67% pure gold — which is exactly what 22 carat means. It is not a brand, not a grade above or below 22K, and not a marker of quality. It is the same thing written a different way, and the reason it dominates Indian jewellery is that hallmarking works in parts per thousand rather than in carats.
Why 22 carat is written as 916
Carat measures gold content in twenty-fourths. 22 carat means 22 parts gold to 2 parts alloy. Converting that to a fraction: 22 ÷ 24 = 0.916667, which is 916.67 parts per thousand. Hallmarks are stamped in whole parts per thousand and always round down, so the stamp reads 916. Apply the same rule to the other grades and the whole hallmark system falls out:
That rounding matters more than it looks. 916 is the stamp; 0.916667 is the multiplier. A site that prices 22 carat at 91.6% rather than 91.667% publishes a figure about 0.07% low — small per gram, but it is the difference between arithmetic and a stamp, and a rate site should know which is which.
| Carat | Hallmark | Purity | Per gram (India) | Per tola (Pakistan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999.9 | 100.0% | ₹ 13,407.21 | Rs 469,639 |
| 22K | 916 | 91.7% | ₹ 12,289.95 | Rs 430,502 |
| 21K | 875 | 87.5% | ₹ 11,731.31 | Rs 410,934 |
| 18K | 750 | 75.0% | ₹ 10,055.41 | Rs 352,229 |
| 14K | 585 | 58.3% | ₹ 7,820.87 | Rs 273,956 |
The 916 rate today
In India, 916 gold is currently ₹ 12,289.95 per gram, ₹ 98,320 per pavan (8 grams) and ₹ 122,899 per 10 grams.
| Weight | 916 / 22K | 24K (999) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | ₹ 12,289.95 | ₹ 13,407.21 | ₹ 1,117.26 |
| 8 grams (1 pavan) | ₹ 98,320 | ₹ 107,258 | ₹ 8,938 |
| 10 grams | ₹ 122,899 | ₹ 134,072 | ₹ 11,173 |
| 1 tola | ₹ 143,347 | ₹ 156,379 | ₹ 13,032 |
| 50 grams | ₹ 614,497 | ₹ 670,360 | ₹ 55,863 |
| 100 grams | ₹ 1,228,995 | ₹ 1,340,721 | ₹ 111,726 |
Pakistani markets use the same 91.67% grade but quote it as "22 carat" rather than 916, and price it per tola: Rs 430,502 per tola, or Rs 36,909.26 per gram.
916 vs KDM: two different things
These get compared constantly, but they describe different properties of the same piece. 916 is about purity. KDM was about solder.
Joining two pieces of 22 carat gold requires a solder that melts at a lower temperature than the gold itself. For decades the trade used a cadmium alloy for this — hence "cadmium", shortened to KDM. It worked well, and KDM became shorthand for well-finished 22 carat jewellery.
The problem is that cadmium is toxic, particularly to the artisans breathing its fumes during soldering. The Bureau of Indian Standards moved the trade to cadmium-free solders, and hallmarked jewellery should no longer be sold on a KDM basis. A shop still promoting KDM as a feature is either working with old stock or has not kept up — either way it is a reason to ask more questions, not fewer.
How to verify a 916 stamp
- Look for the BIS mark alongside it. A "916" stamp on its own is a claim by whoever stamped it. The BIS triangle is what makes it a certification.
- Check the HUID. Indian hallmarked jewellery carries a six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification code, verifiable in the BIS Care app. If the code does not resolve, do not buy.
- Confirm the purity grade is written out. Current hallmarking shows the grade as "22K916", not just a bare number.
- Ask for it on the invoice. Weight, purity, rate applied and making charge should all appear in writing. This is what protects you at resale, not the stamp itself.
Should you buy 916 or 24K?
It depends entirely on what you want the gold to do.
- To wear it: 916. Pure gold is too soft — it deforms, scratches and will not hold a stone securely. The 8.4% alloy is what makes jewellery survive being worn.
- To hold value: 24 carat coins or bars. You pay almost no making charge, and you recover close to the full metal value when you sell. That is the entire difference in investment terms.
- For both: plain 916 pieces — bangles, chains — carry lower making charges than intricate work while remaining wearable. It is the sensible middle.
The purity is rarely what determines your return. Making charges are. A 916 piece with a 25% making charge loses a fifth of your money the moment it leaves the shop, regardless of how good the hallmark is.