The short answer: 22ct gold is 91.6% pure gold, so it is worth 91.6% of the gold price per gram. On 26 October 2026 that made the market value of 22ct gold about £88.48 per gram, and Britannia Gold Exchange paid £77.86 per gram (88% of the market value). The gold price moves every day, so check today's gold price per gram for the live figure.
22 carat gold is the richest, most yellow gold most people own. In the UK you'll usually find it in wedding bands from older generations, Asian and Middle Eastern bridal jewellery, heavy bangles and gold sovereigns. Because it contains so much gold, it is worth far more per gram than the 9ct and 18ct jewellery most of us wear.
What is 22ct gold?
Gold purity is measured in carats out of 24. 22ct gold is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metals, usually silver and copper, which makes it 91.6% pure. Those other metals make it a little harder than pure 24ct gold, but it is still soft enough to bend and scratch, which is why heavy 22ct pieces often show wear.
How to tell if your gold is 22ct
- UK hallmark: look for 916, the fineness mark for 22ct (916 parts gold per 1,000). It's usually inside a ring band, on the clasp of a chain or on the edge of a bangle.
- Foreign stamps: jewellery made abroad may be stamped "22K", "22KT" or "916". Some Asian and Middle Eastern gold is 21ct, stamped "875".
- No mark at all? Plenty of 22ct jewellery, especially pieces made abroad or handed down, has no hallmark. That doesn't mean it isn't gold. We test every item with XRF (a scan that reads the exact metal content without marking it), so unmarked gold is paid at its true purity.
Our gold purity guide explains every hallmark from 9ct to 24ct.
How much is 22ct gold worth per gram in the UK?
To work out what any gold is worth, multiply the weight by the purity and the gold price per gram. Here is what that looked like on 26 October 2026, when the UK gold price was £96.59 per gram:
| Carat (hallmark) | Gold content | Market value per gram | What we paid per gram (88%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24ct (999) | 99.9% | £96.49 | £84.91 |
| 22ct (916) | 91.6% | £88.48 | £77.86 |
| 18ct (750) | 75% | £72.44 | £63.75 |
| 9ct (375) | 37.5% | £36.22 | £31.87 |
So gram for gram, 22ct gold is worth almost two and a half times as much as 9ct. For the live figures, see today's gold price, or our 18ct gold price page if you have both.
Worked example: a 20g 22ct bangle
- Weight: 20 grams
- Pure gold in it: 20g × 91.6% = 18.32g
- Market value: 18.32g × £96.59 = £1,769.53
- What we paid on 26 October 2026: 88% of that, about £1,557
We pay for the gold only. Stones aren't included in the offer, so if a piece is set with stones you'd like to keep, have them removed before you send it.
Selling Asian and Indian bridal gold
A lot of the 22ct gold we see comes from wedding sets: necklaces, bangles, earrings and tikka pieces given as part of Asian bridal jewellery. These are often heavy, handmade and unhallmarked, and some contain solder, hooks or wax-filled sections that aren't solid gold.
That's why testing matters. We check each piece separately, so you're paid for the gold that's really there and not a rough guess based on the total weight. If a set mixes 22ct and 21ct pieces, each is paid at its own purity. Many families sell only broken or unworn pieces and keep the rest, and that's fine: send just what you want valued.
Gold sovereigns are 22ct too
British gold sovereigns have been struck in 22ct gold since 1817. A full sovereign weighs 7.98g and contains 7.32g of pure gold; a half sovereign weighs 3.99g and contains 3.66g. We buy sovereigns and half sovereigns in any condition. Coins are priced differently from scrap jewellery, so contact us or call free on 0800 233 5323 for today's sovereign price before you send them.
How to sell your 22ct gold by post
- Order a free postal kit. Request your free insured kit and choose your insurance cover when you order. Because 22ct is so valuable, check the total value before you post: Royal Mail won't pay out on valuables over £2,500 in one parcel, so call us first if you're sending more.
- Post it back free. Pack your gold in the tamper-proof bag and hand the prepaid Special Delivery envelope in at any Post Office. Keep your receipt.
- Get your offer the same day it arrives. We open every parcel under CCTV, test each item by XRF and weigh it on calibrated scales.
- Get paid the same working day. Accept and we pay by bank transfer that day. Decline and we send everything back free by Special Delivery.
If another UK gold buyer gives you a higher written quote for the same items, dated within the last 30 days, we'll match it at today's gold price. Read how to sell gold by post for the full steps.
22ct gold FAQs
How much is 22ct gold worth per gram in the UK?
It's worth 91.6% of the gold price per gram. On 26 October 2026 that was £88.48 per gram at market value, and we paid £77.86. See today's gold price for the live figure.
What does 916 mean on gold?
916 is the hallmark for 22ct gold. It means the metal is 916 parts gold per 1,000, or 91.6% pure.
Is 22ct gold plated jewellery worth anything?
Not as gold. "22ct gold plated" means a very thin layer of gold over a cheaper metal, and the amount of gold is too small to recover. Plated items are often stamped "GP" or "plated". Our guide to gold vs gold-plated shows how to check. If you're not sure, send it anyway: we test it free and return anything that isn't solid gold at no cost.
Is 22ct gold worth more than 18ct?
Yes. 22ct is 91.6% gold and 18ct is 75%, so 22ct is worth about 22% more per gram.
Do you buy 22ct gold without a hallmark?
Yes. We test every item by XRF, so unhallmarked, foreign and antique 22ct gold is paid at its true purity.
Is now a good time to sell 22ct gold?
Gold prices have been near record highs in 2026. Our guide on whether now is a good time to sell gold explains what moves the price and how to decide.
Prices in this guide are from 26 October 2026. The gold price changes daily: see our gold price page for today's figures.
Ready to sell your 22ct gold? Order your free postal gold kit today.