Journal

Gold Purity

What 999, 24K, 22K, 18K and 916 actually mean, how fineness is marked, and how purity is verified.

Purity is the single thing most often asked about gold and the single thing most often marked on it, and the two do not always line up. A fineness figure — 999, 916, 750 — states parts per thousand of gold; a karat figure states parts of twenty-four. They are the same measurement in two notations, which is why 999 and 24K describe roughly the same metal and 916 and 22K describe the same alloy. What the number cannot tell you is whether it is true. A mark is a claim made by whoever struck it, and the systems that stand behind those claims differ by country: some require independent assay before an item may be sold as gold, others regulate the accuracy of a maker's own mark and leave testing to the trade. So the useful order is the one this section follows — read the notation, understand which system marked it, then verify if the piece or the seller gives you reason to.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

18K Gold vs 999 Gold: Which Should You Actually Buy?

18K gold is 750 parts gold per thousand; 999 gold is 99.9% pure. What that means for durability, hallmarks and resale — and which to buy for jewellery versus bullion.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

Understanding Gold Purity: 24K, 22K, 18K Explained

Gold purity explained: karat vs fineness, 24K vs 22K vs 18K differences, and how purity affects value for investors.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

How to Test Gold at Home: Five Methods, Ranked by What They Prove

Magnet, density, acid, ceramic and professional XRF. A step-by-step for each, and an honest account of what each one can and cannot tell you.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

How Fake Bullion Is Actually Detected

Modern counterfeits match weight and dimensions and defeat a magnet. The tests that still work, in the order a dealer performs them, and what a private buyer can reasonably do.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

Gold Jewellery vs Bullion: Which Is the Smarter Buy?

Gold you can wear, or gold that tracks the spot price? We compare premiums, making charges, resale, tax and liquidity so you buy gold for the right reason in 2026.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

Chow Sang Sang 999.9 Gold Review: Ancient Matte Craftsmanship & Purity Hallmarks

A detailed collector evaluation of Chow Sang Sang (CSS), one of Hong Kong and Asia’s premier heritage fine jewellery houses founded in 1934.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

Coin Grading Explained: When a Slab Is Worth Paying For

The 70-point scale, what third-party grading actually certifies, and why a graded bullion coin is usually a worse buy than a raw one.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity

How to Authenticate Luxury Jewellery Without Any Paperwork

Inherited, bought at auction, or sold with the box long gone. What the marks legally guarantee in each major market, what you can measure at home, and when to stop and pay someone.