24K, 22K, 21K or 18K? Gold Karats Explained
The first question in any gold shop is usually "which karat?". Karat tells you how much pure gold a piece contains, and it drives the price per gram, the durability and even the colour. Here is a plain-language guide to the karats you will meet in the Gulf.
What does karat mean?
Gold purity is expressed in 24 parts. Karat is the number of those parts that are pure gold: 24K is essentially all gold, while 18K is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals such as copper, silver or zinc. Hallmarks often use a parts-per-thousand number instead — 750, for example, means 750 parts of gold per 1,000, which is 18K.
Quick comparison
| Karat | Gold content | Hallmark | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 999 | Bars and coins |
| 22K | 91.6% | 916 | Gulf and Indian jewellery, coins |
| 21K | 87.5% | 875 | Everyday jewellery in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf |
| 18K | 75% | 750 | Gem-set jewellery and white gold |
| 14K | 58.5% | 585 | Modern everyday jewellery |
24K: for saving more than wearing
24K is the purest gold in common circulation. It has a deep yellow colour but is soft and scratches or bends easily, so it is mostly used for bars and coins. Its price sits very close to the global spot price, and making charges on bars are usually far lower than on jewellery.
22K and 21K: the Gulf favourites
22K combines a rich colour with better strength than 24K, which is why it is popular for Gulf and Indian jewellery and for well-known coins such as the British sovereign. 21K is the most common karat in Saudi and many Gulf shops: at 87.5% gold it keeps a high gold content while being tough enough for bangles and chains worn every day.
18K and 14K: tougher and cheaper per gram
The lower the karat, the more alloy metal it contains — so it gets harder and cheaper per gram. 18K is the usual choice for diamond and gem-set pieces because it holds stones securely, and most white and rose gold is 18K. 14K is the most durable and affordable option and is widespread in modern jewellery.
How each karat is priced
Price per gram of any karat = 24K price per gram × purity. If 24K costs 400 AED per gram, 21K costs 400 × 0.875 = 350 AED and 18K costs 400 × 0.75 = 300 AED. You can see these calculations live on our karat price pages.
Which karat should you choose?
- Saving and resale: 24K or 22K bars and coins.
- Everyday wear: 21K or 22K for high gold content with good durability.
- Gem-set and detailed designs: 18K.
- Tight budget and maximum durability: 14K.
Remember that the final shop price includes making charges and tax, so always compare it with the raw gold price.
