How is gold purity affected?
Gold tends to be soft and malleable when in its true form, as well as one of the most valuable metals on the planet. For centuries, humans have adorned themselves with gold jewellery as a way to showcase rank and class. However, as pure gold is simply too soft and malleable to be made into jewellery for everyday wear, gold is blended with other alloys such as zinc, copper, palladium and silver to make it more durable and scratch-proof for daily usage.
What is 999 gold?
24 carat gold or 999 gold (which also means gold content of 999.9 parts per thousand) is also known as the purest kind of gold. This is because it is impossible to obtain 100% gold with zero impurities. 999 gold is valuable, yellow in appearance and resistant to tarnish - but not so when it comes to being strong and scratch proof. Hence, 999 gold is usually made into gold bars, gold coins and Si Dian Jin jewellery pieces that are more solid in design and good for investment or keepsake purposes
What is 916 Gold?
916 gold refers to 91.6 per gram of gold or 22 carat gold, and unlike 999 gold, is much more durable and less likely to suffer scratches. Hence, most gold jewellery are usually crafted from 916 gold, as it is easier and much more adaptable when it comes to intricate designs and complex jewellery craftsmanship.
Gold Purity Standards
Remembering the different gold terminologies can be tricky - especially when there are so many! As a customer, it is important to be always well-aware of the kind of gold you are purchasing.
The difference between Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
White Gold
Yellow Gold
Rose Gold
Do's for Gold Jewellery
Don’ts for Gold Jewellery
To find out more on how to clean and store your gold jewellery, view our Jewellery Care Guide here.