Two numbers — 22K and 24K — drive nearly every gold purchase in Sri Lanka. They look similar, the prices are close, and the salesperson rarely takes the time to explain the difference. Here's the unvarnished breakdown.
What 'karat' actually means
Karat is a measure of gold purity expressed in twenty-fourths. 24-karat gold is, by definition, as close to pure as practical refining allows — about 99.9%. 22-karat is 91.6% gold, with the remaining 8.4% made up of harder alloying metals like silver, copper, or zinc. That's where the local 916 hallmark comes from.
The hardness trade-off
Pure 24K gold is genuinely soft — soft enough that a wedding ring worn daily would lose its shape and pick up surface dents within months. 22K's alloy mix is the sweet spot for traditional jewellery: dense enough to feel substantial, hard enough to hold detail, but still gold-rich enough to retain that warm yellow tone the local market expects.
Resale value
Per gram, 24K commands the higher rate — you're being paid for purer metal. But 22K is what jewellers, refiners, and the local bullion market predominantly trade in. So when you walk in to sell, the per-pawan rate you see on the chalkboard is almost always the 22K rate. 24K transactions happen, but more often through bullion coins and bars than through jewellery.
Which to buy, when
- For pure investment — buy 24K coins or bars from a licensed bullion dealer. Lower making charges, easier resale, no alloy ambiguity.
- For daily-wear jewellery — buy 22K. The durability is worth the small purity trade-off.
- For traditional wedding sets — 22K is the universal Sri Lankan standard. Anything stamped 916 fits the cultural expectation.
- For Indian-style heritage pieces — 22K or, occasionally, 23K (958). Both wear well and resell easily.
Why 916 dominates here
Sri Lankan gold culture is wear-it culture. Necklaces stay on. Bangles aren't taken off. Wedding sets pass between generations. That climate — humid, hands-on, daily-use — punishes soft metal. Two centuries of practical experience pushed the local standard to 91.6%, and the regulatory framework followed.
One thing to watch
When you sell, ask the buyer to test purity in front of you. A reputable buyer will use XRF, show you the screen, and pay you the per-pawan rate matching the actual karat. If the karat reads lower than the stamp, the buyer should still pay you correctly — but at least you'll know the truth about the piece you've been wearing.
Written by
Ran Naya Editorial Desk
