Understanding Gold Purity: 24K, 22K, 18K & 999.9 Fine Gold

Gold purity is measured in Karats (K) or Fineness parts per thousand. Understanding these distinctions helps buyers ensure they get exact value when purchasing investment bullion or selling scrap jewelry.

What Does Karat (K) Mean?

The Karat system measures pure gold proportion out of 24 parts:

• 24 Karat (999.9 Fine): 99.99% pure gold with virtually zero impurities. Standard for investment bars and minted bullion coins.
• 22 Karat (916 Fine): 91.67% pure gold alloyed with copper or silver for durability. Used in traditional sovereigns and fine jewelry.
• 18 Karat (750 Fine): 75.0% pure gold. Highly popular in fine diamond jewelry for structural strength.
• 14 Karat (585 Fine): 58.5% pure gold. Common in commercial Western jewelry items.

Non-Destructive XRF Spectrometer Assaying

At Nish Gold & Bullion in Melbourne, we evaluate gold items using advanced X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzers that determine exact karat purity instantly without damaging the metal.