If you're buying gold in Rourkela, the first question is almost always the same: should you buy 22K or 24Kgold? The short answer — 24K for pure investment (coins and bars), 22K for jewellery you'll actually wear. Here's why.
What the karat number means
“Karat” (K) measures the purity of gold out of 24 parts. So 24K is (near) 100% pure gold, and 22K is 22 parts gold to 2 parts other metals.
- 24K gold — 99.9% pure, hallmarked 999. The highest purity you can buy.
- 22K gold — 91.6% pure, hallmarked 916. The standard for Indian jewellery.
- 18K gold — 75% pure, hallmarked 750. Used for diamond and lighter, more delicate pieces.
Why jewellery is almost never 24K
Pure 24K gold is soft— it bends and scratches easily and can't hold an intricate design or securely set a stone. To make durable, wearable jewellery, gold is alloyed with small amounts of harder metals (copper, silver, zinc). That's what gives 22K its strength while keeping it 91.6% pure. This is why a 24K necklace isn't practical, and why almost every gold ornament you see is 22K or 18K.
Which should you buy?
- Buying to wear (necklaces, bangles, rings, jhumkas) → 22K. The best balance of purity and durability.
- Buying to invest / gift value (coins, bars) → 24K. Maximum purity, easiest to resell at rate.
- Diamond or very light designs → 18K. Extra hardness holds stones securely.
How this affects price
Because 24K has more pure gold per gram, its per-gram rate is higher than 22K. But the final price of a jewellery piece isn't just the metal — it also includes making charges, a ₹50 HUID charge, and 3% GST. You can see today's exact 22K, 24K and 18K rates on our gold rate in Rourkela page, or work out the full price of any weight with our gold price calculator.