Gold and Silver Purity Calculator

Gold and silver purity is written in different ways: karat for gold, and three-digit marks such as 916 or 925. This calculator converts between them and shows how much pure metal an item of a given weight contains.

Gold and silver purity

e.g. 22 for 22K, 916 for fineness, or 91.6 for percent
Enter today’s rate to see the metal value

How it works

Karat measures gold out of 24 parts, so purity % = karat ÷ 24 × 100. 22 karat is 22 ÷ 24 = 91.67%, which is why 22K gold carries the mark 916.

Fineness gives purity in parts per 1,000: 925 silver is 92.5% silver, also called sterling. Pure metal content = item weight × purity %.

Worked example

The example uses rupees, but the maths is the same in any currency. Choose yours in the calculator above.

A 10 g chain marked 916 is 91.6% gold, about 22 karat. It contains about 9.16 g of pure gold and 0.84 g of other metals. A 50 g sterling silver bowl marked 925 contains about 46.25 g of pure silver.

Good to know

  • The metal value shown is only the value of the pure metal at the rate you enter. It is not the price of the item, which also depends on workmanship, age, condition and the market.
  • Marks and karat show the stated purity. Only proper testing can confirm it.
  • In India, gold and silver jewellery is hallmarked under the BIS system, which uses marks such as 22K916 and 925. Check current rules with the official sources.

Frequently asked questions

What does 916 mean on gold?

It means 916 parts per 1,000 are gold, or 91.6%. That matches 22 karat gold, since 22 out of 24 parts is about 91.67%.

What does 925 mean on silver?

It means 92.5% silver, the standard known as sterling silver. The rest is usually copper, which makes the metal harder.

Is 24K gold 100% pure?

In practice 24K gold is marked 999 or 995, meaning 99.9% or 99.5% gold. Absolutely pure gold is not used for jewellery.

Does this calculator tell me what my antique is worth?

No. It shows only the metal content. An antique or crafted piece can be worth much more than its metal, depending on its age, maker and condition.

More calculators

Sources