Want to buy gold jewellery this Diwali?:Find out how many carats your gold ornament should be and how to check its purity

If you are thinking of buying gold jewellery, it is important to first understand how many carats of gold should your ornament be made of. Gold jewellery of 14, 18, 22 and 24 carats is available in the market and each carat has its own importance. The price increases with higher carats. Often people buy jewellery just by looking at the design, but ignore important aspects like carat, purity and hallmark. As a result, they have to bear losses when selling or exchanging later. Lets delve into following points: Question- What does carat mean in gold? Answer- Carat is the unit of measuring gold purity. Pure gold is considered 24 carat meaning no other metal is mixed in it. Pure gold is very soft. Therefore, metals like copper, silver, zinc are mixed in it to make jewellery. The more other metals are mixed in it, the lower the carat value of gold becomes. For example, 22 carat gold contains 91.6% pure gold and the rest other metals. Similarly, 18 carat gold contains 75% gold and the rest mixed metals. Question- Which gold is the purest? Answer- 14, 18, 22 and 24 carat gold are used for different things. This is the measure of gold purity. Let’s understand this through the graphic. Question- Which carat gold is considered best for jewellery? Answer- If you want to buy traditional jewelry for weddings or festivals, 22 carat gold is the best option because it has both purity and strength. On the other hand, if you want to buy designer jewellery, diamond settings or jewellery for everyday wear, 18 carat or 14 carat are considered better. Designs made with these remain strong for a long time. Question- How much does changing carats affect the price of gold? Answer- The higher the carat of gold, the higher its price will be. 24 carat gold is the most expensive because it contains almost 100% pure gold. Meanwhile, 22 carat is slightly cheaper and 18 and 14 carat are even more affordable. This is why people choose 18 or 14 carat for everyday jewellery so that the price remains lower while maintaining durability. Question- Why is it important to check hallmark when buying jewelry? Answer- Hallmark is a government certificate of gold purity. In India, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) hallmarking is mandatory. This ensures that the jewellery contains the exact carats of gold as stated. This helps prevent fraud from sale of fake or adulterated gold. In the future, this gold will also get the right value when selling or exchanging in the market. Question- What is the difference in strength and durability between different carat jewellery items? Answer- The higher the carat, the more gold and the softer the jewellery will be. This is why jewellery is not made from 24 carat gold. Its design can change with light pressure or impact. If we talk about durability, gold with lower carats is stronger because it contains a higher amount of mixed metals. This is why 14 and 18 carat gold is better for everyday wear jewellery, while 22 carat is good for special occasions and traditional ornaments. Question- What are the 5 important things to keep in mind while buying gold jewellery? Answer- Whether buying gold in the form of jewellery, coins or biscuits, keep some important things in mind. This will help you avoid losses. Let’s understand this through the graphic. Question- How many carats of gold would be right for everyday wear? Answer- If you are buying jewelry for daily wear, such as chains, bracelets, rings or office-wear jewelry, then 14 carat or 18 carat gold is the best option. These are strong, don’t break easily and don’t deteriorate quickly from frequent wearing. On the other hand, 22 carat gold is better for wearing at weddings or special occasions rather than daily use. Question- How can you check the purity of gold jewellery yourself? Answer- If you want to check immediately, download the BIS Care app. In this, you can check if the jewellery is genuine or fake by entering the hallmark number. Additionally, you can visit jewellery stores and get a touchstone test or XRF machine test done to check purity. This shows what percentage of pure gold is in the item. Question- Is there a loss when exchanging gold jewellery? Answer- Yes, most jewelers deduct making charges when exchanging old jewelry and provide new jewellery only based on the pure gold weight. If your old jewelry is without hallmark, its value is determined after checking purity, which sometimes turns out to be less. Therefore, always keep hallmark and bill safe, so that you get the right value during exchange. Question- What carat gold should be bought for investment? Answer- For investment purposes, 22 carat gold is generally considered the most suitable. 22 carat gold has higher purity. Therefore, its investment value is stable and traditionally acceptable. 14 or 18 carat gold contains more alloy metals, which reduces the value of pure gold and is not considered as profitable for investment. While 24 carat gold is pure, its use in jewellery is difficult and delicate. Question- Is digital gold a better option for investment? Answer- Digital gold is also a good investment option because there are no concerns about theft, storage space or quality. With digital gold, you can start with small investments, it’s easy to buy and sell immediately, and it is based on the value of physical gold, which can provide good returns in the long term. ​