916 Gold and the 916 Hallmark in Jewellery
Gold jewellery features a hallmark to denote the purity, usually 9ct or 18 carat Gold. For example, 375 and 750 appear frequently in our jewellery commissions. On occasion, we have Gold jewellery hallmarked 916. The appearance of 916 Gold sometimes causes confusion.
Just like some other unusual gold purities (such as Gold stamped 800) the markings for 22 carat Gold are less well known.
What is 916 Gold?
Gold stamped with 916 denotes 22 carat Gold. Compared to 18ct Gold (75% pure Gold – stamped 750) 22ct Gold contains 91.6% pure Gold. A higher Gold content results in an intense golden-yellow, rich colouration. As a result, 22ct Gold makes a popular choice for Indian jewellery buyers. By comparison, the lighter colour of 18ct Yellow Gold makes a popular choice in the UK.
Which is better – 18ct Gold or 22ct Gold
Although very durable, 18ct Gold offers a less malleable and more suitable for setting diamonds. Most jewellery in the UK is created in 18ct Gold or 9ct Gold. The internal hallmark ensures the item has been tested at the Assay Office for fineness. As a result, buyers have reassurance that the metal description is accurate. Any precious metal can feature a simple stamp. For example, many Platinum items include PLT 950 and PT950 in addition to a legitimate hallmark. Any such stamps signify the purity of the metal as we have already noted.
How heavy is 22ct Gold?
22ct Yellow Gold is approximately 1.15 times heavier than 18ct Gold. Visit our precious metal weight conversion chart for more help on converting precious metal weight.
The following video shows one of our heavyweight pre-loved gold chains in 22ct Gold.
Does 22ct gold tarnish?
Put simply, pure gold does not tarnish. Although all golds and precious metals will change colour and dull down over time, a simple professional clean and refinish will bring back its brightness and shine. Because of its fineness, gold can be easily worked with and reshaped if required.
The difference between 999ct gold and 916ct
In comparison, 999ct (24-carat) gold is the highest quality of fineness. 100% fine gold is very tricky to achieve due to the compromise in purity and it’s softness. As a result is not recommended for daily wear e.g engagement rings, wedding rings, bracelets.
Gold Hallmarks
Determining the Value of a 22-Carat Gold Wedding Ring?
If you need to know how much a 22-carat gold wedding ring is worth, here’s how. Use this straightforward process. Begin by weighing the wedding ring to ascertain its gram weight. Next, refer to a reputable bullion website to find the current scrap metal value for 22-carat gold. Finally, calculate the ring’s value by multiplying its gram weight by the prevailing scrap metal price.
How old is your ring? Hallmarks and Gold Date Stamps
An interesting feature of some older jewellery items is a gold date stamp, which is no longer compulsory for UK hallmarks. For example, I photographed one of our pre-owned wedding rings to show the gold date stamp inside the ring. This denotes the year the hallmark applied to the ring. We cross reference the letter against a list of gold date stamps to determine the year. In this instance, the year 1960 appears represented by the letter “L” applied in a specific letter style.
About Mark Johnson
My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. I have 30 years or experience in polished diamonds and jewellery. Today, I work with an expert team in our Isle of Wight jewellery showroom located in Ryde. Most of my work involves helping clients in our showroom, working on our two websites and photographing jewellery commissions.
