916 gold meaning: is 916 gold 22 karat?
916 gold is 22 karat gold: 91.6% pure gold (22 ÷ 24 = 0.9167). At the international spot price, a gram of 916 gold holds about ₹10,996 of gold as of 2 November 2026.
In this guide
What 916 means
Gold purity in India is written as parts per thousand. 916 means 916 parts of pure gold in 1,000, or 91.6%. In karats, 22 ÷ 24 = 0.9167, so 916 is the number for 22K. It's the usual purity for Indian jewellery because pure 24K gold is too soft for most designs.
Main BIS purity grades
| Karat | BIS mark | Gold content |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999 / 995 | 99.9% / 99.5% |
| 23K | 958 | 95.8% |
| 22K | 916 | 91.6% |
| 20K | 833 | 83.3% |
| 18K | 750 | 75% |
| 14K | 585 | 58.5% |
The BIS hallmark and HUID
Hallmarking of gold jewellery is mandatory in the districts notified by the government, which cover most of India (with small exemptions, such as very light pieces). A hallmarked piece carries three marks:
- The BIS logo (the Bureau of Indian Standards triangle).
- The purity grade, for example 22K916.
- A 6-digit HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification), an alphanumeric code unique to that piece.
You can check a HUID in the government's BIS CARE app ("Verify HUID"), which shows the purity, the jeweller and the hallmarking centre on record.
"916 KDM" and old jewellery
Older jewellery is sometimes called "916 KDM". KDM referred to cadmium solder, which is no longer allowed because of health risks for workers. The purity that matters for value is still the 916.
What 916 gold is worth
| Weight | Gold value (international spot) |
|---|---|
| 1 gram | ₹10,996 |
| 8 grams (1 sovereign/pavan) | ₹87,970 |
| 10 grams | ₹1,09,962 |
| 1 tola (11.66 g) | ₹1,28,258 |
As of 2 November 2026. Indian retail rates are usually higher; see 22K gold rate today.
Frequently asked questions
Is 916 gold 22 karat?
Yes. 916 means 91.6% gold, which is 22 karat (22 ÷ 24 = 91.67%).
Is 916 gold pure gold?
It is 91.6% pure. The other 8.4% is alloy (usually silver, copper and zinc) that makes the jewellery strong enough to wear.
What is HUID on gold?
HUID is a 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification code given to each hallmarked piece. You can verify it in the BIS CARE app.
What is 916 gold worth per gram?
About ₹10,996 per gram at the international spot price as of 2 November 2026, before import duty, making charges and GST.