22 Carat vs 24 Carat

Gold is believed to be the king of the metals and is highly invested in. Apart from the gold rate today, it is also important to check the purity of gold before making a purchase. The purity of the gold is depicted by karats or carats, and the most common discussion is of 22-carat vs 24-carat gold.

22-carat gold is an alloy of gold and other metals used to make gold jewellery. Because it is 91.6% pure gold, 22-carat gold is often known as ‘916’ gold. The purest kind of gold is 24-carat, which is 100% pure gold with no other metals added. It is the most costly form of gold.

The difference between 24 and 22-karat gold is based on the composition, appearance and feel of gold rate today and jewellery durability. 22-carat gold is a nice compromise because it is more durable while still looking great.

Types of Gold (Carat)

Gold has always been valued for its radiance and beauty. The increased demand for yellow metal has significantly contributed to the gold rate today. Individuals can choose different forms of gold as per their requirements and the gold price today. The following assortments of the purity of gold are available to individuals.

24 Carat Gold

The 24 Carat gold is 100% pure gold with no other metals mixed in. It is 99.9% pure and has a distinguishing brilliant yellow colour on the local market. Today gold price of 24 karat gold is higher than that of 22 or 18-karat gold. It is soft and malleable, which is why it is not used to make traditional jewellery. 24K gold is used to create coins and bars, as well as in electronics and medical products.

22-Carat Gold

22 Carat gold is generally used in the manufacture of jewellery. In 22-carat gold vs 24-carat gold, 22K gold is composed of 22 parts gold and the remaining two parts metals such as silver, zinc, nickel, and other alloys. It is also referred to as 91.67% pure gold. The combination of alloys hardens the texture of gold, making jewellery more durable.

18-Carat Gold

The composition of 18-carat gold is 75% gold and 25% additional metals such as copper, silver, and other alloys. This sort of gold is used to produce gemstone and diamond jewellery. It costs less than 24K and 22K gold.

14-Carat Gold

14-karat gold is made up of 58.3 % pure gold and 41.7 % additional metals such as copper, zinc, silver, and nickel. With only 14 parts gold out of 24, it is typically less expensive than higher-karat gold. Because of the reduced saturation of gold, 14-karat gold is frequently lighter yellow.

10-Carat Gold

10-karat gold is a gold alloy containing at least 41.7% gold, with the remainder consisting of other alloys such as silver, nickel, or zinc. The alloyed metal content is more than that of pure gold. It has 10 parts gold out of 24. This gold form is strong, not too soft, and does not readily scratch or bend.

22 Carat vs 24 Carat

The top two purity of gold has the highest demand, therefore, increasing their respective gold price today. However, it is necessary to differentiate 22 carat vs 24 carat before making a decision as both have their own set of qualities and the price. The following are some of the differences between 24 and 22-karat gold.

Colour and Cost

The first and foremost factor in the debate of 22-carat gold vs 24-carat gold. The colour of 24-carat gold is richer and more yellow than that of 22-carat gold and softer. As a result, 24-carat gold is more expensive and less suitable for jewellery creation because it is more prone to scratches and other damage.

Purity

When talking about 22-carat vs 24-carat gold, the purity of the gold is the most weighted factor. 24 carat is 99.9% pure gold, whereas 22 carat is around 91% pure gold, with the remaining 9% made up of other metals such as copper, silver, zinc, and so on.

Durability

Durability is another difference between 24 and 22-karat gold. While 24K gold has a bright colour, it is not as durable as 22K gold jewellery. This is due to the fact that 24K gold is too soft to withstand wear and tear. The presence of other metals in 22K gold contributes to the jewellery’s durability.

Jewellery Making

24-carat gold is the purest gold available to an individual; therefore, any other metal is absent. This makes the 24-carat gold difficult to mould into the desired shape and design. This is not the case with 22-carat gold. It is easier to mould into a desired shape and design due to the presence of other metals. When it comes to jewellery making, 22-carat gold is preferred between the 22-carat vs 24-carat.

Strength

22-carat gold vs 24-carat gold has a lot of differences between them; one such difference is strength. 22-carat gold has less strength than 24-carat gold, making it more prone to breakdown.

Selling Value

The 22-carat vs 24-carat gold price is one of the most important differences. The gold rate today of both golds has a significant gap between them. It is not simply the purchase price that differs but also their resale value. When the 22-carat vs 24-carat gold price of resale is compared, 22-carat fetches less money than the 24-carat gold.

Comparison Between 24K and 22K Gold

Having understood the basic difference between 24 and 22-karat gold, the following table summarises the 22-carat gold vs 24-carat gold.

Parameter	22k Gold	24k Gold
Purity	It contains 91.67% of gold, whereas the rest are other types of metals.	It is the purest form of gold, containing 99.9% of gold.
Purpose	The purpose is to make jewellery owing to increased durability due to the inclusion of other metals	It has investment purposes due to its non-durable nature.
Price	The gold price today of 22k gold is less than the gold price today of 24K	It has the highest rate among all its peers.
Usage	It is used to create jewellery and other gold items.	It is used in medical and electrical equipment.
Durability	22K gold is impure as it contains additional metals like zinc, nickel, copper, etc., thus, increasing its durability.	24k gold is the purest form; therefore, it is not very stable and is susceptible to wear and tear.