Every piece of gold jewellery is a mix of pure gold and other metals. The karat number tells you how much of each, and it decides the colour, the strength and a large part of the price. This guide explains purity with diagrams and the units used in Nepal, so you can read a bill or a price tag with confidence.
In this guide
What a karat number means
Gold purity is counted in 24 parts. Pure gold is 24 karat. A 22 karat piece is 22 parts gold and 2 parts other metals, which works out to 91.6% gold. The other metals, usually silver, copper and zinc, make the gold harder and change its colour.
Diagram 1
How much of each karat is gold
Many pieces are also stamped with a three-digit fineness number: the gold content in parts per thousand. 916 means 22K, 750 means 18K and 585 means 14K. Fine 24K gold is marked 999, or 9999 for the purest bars.
Gold purity chart
| Karat | Gold content | Stamp | Character | Common uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% and above | 999 · 9999 | Deep yellow. Very soft: bends and scratches easily. | Bars, coins, simple chains and pendants |
| 22K | 91.6% | 916 | Rich yellow, strong enough to wear. | Traditional necklaces, bangles, tilhari pendants, earrings |
| 18K | 75.0% | 750 | Lighter colour and much harder. Also made as white or rose gold. | Diamond and gemstone jewellery |
| 14K | 58.5% | 585 | Pale and very hard-wearing. | Light everyday diamond and fashion pieces |
Diagram 2
Purity drawn to scale
You are welcome to use this chart and these diagrams on your own website or in print, with a link back to this page.
24K, 22K or 18K: which should you choose?
24K: fine gold
Fine gold gives you the most gold for every gram you pay for, which is why coins and bars are 24K. It is also the softest. Thin pieces dent, clasps wear and stones can work loose, so 24K suits simple, solid designs rather than delicate settings.
22K: the traditional choice
Most traditional Nepali jewellery is made in 22K. It keeps the warm colour people expect from gold and is hard enough for bangles, chains and necklaces that are worn often. Because it is close to pure, 22K pieces keep a high value when they are exchanged or remade later.
18K: for diamonds and stones
An 18K alloy is a quarter other metals, which makes it much harder. Prongs and settings hold stones firmly, which is why diamond jewellery is usually 18K. It is paler, and because there is less gold in each gram, an 18K piece costs less than the same weight in 22K.
| If you want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gold as savings | 24K | Highest gold content per gram |
| Bridal and traditional pieces | 22K | Classic colour, strong enough, keeps its value |
| A diamond ring or stone-set piece | 18K | Hard alloy holds stones securely |
| Light everyday wear on a budget | 18K or 14K | Hard-wearing and lower cost per gram |
Chhapawal, tejabi and the daily rate in Nepal
Each day the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association (FENEGOSIDA) publishes reference rates that jewellers across the country follow. Rates are quoted per tola (तोला) and per 10 grams.
Two trade words come up when you ask for a price:
- Chhapawal (छापावाल, “stamped”) is fine gold, the rate published as hallmark gold.
- Tejabi (तेजाबी) is gold of a lower, traditional jewellery purity, sold at a lower rate. Reporting has described tejabi as roughly 22 karat, about 92% pure.
Because the two rates differ, always ask which one a price is based on.
Diagram 3
One tola and ten grams, to scale
Our own Pokhara rate, based on the FENEGOSIDA rate and updated every day, is shown in the bar at the top of every page of this website and in the Gold & Silver Rate section of our home page.
Hallmarks and purity marks in Nepal
The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) introduced hallmark certification for gold and silver jewellery after a decision of the Nepal Standards Council in 2014. A certified piece carries the NS mark together with its purity and the date of certification.
The scheme has been voluntary. Reporting in 2016 noted that it was not mandatory for domestic jewellers, and that NBSM was still setting up its testing equipment. In practice, most jewellery sold in Nepal carries the maker's own purity stamp, such as 916, rather than a government hallmark. A stamp is the maker's statement, so the bill matters just as much.
| Mark | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| 916 · 750 · 22K · 18K | The maker's purity stamp: the gold content the jeweller states for the piece. |
| NS mark | Certification by NBSM, with the purity and the date of certification. |
| Your bill | Purity, net gold weight, the rate used and every charge. Keep it: it is your proof when you exchange or sell. |
How purity is tested
| Method | How it works | Marks the piece? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touchstone (kasauti) | The piece is rubbed on a dark stone and the streak is tested with acids of known strength. | A tiny rub mark | Quick checks by an experienced jeweller |
| XRF analyser | X-rays measure the metals at the surface in seconds. | No | Fast, non-destructive checks; reads the surface only, so plating can mislead it |
| Fire assay | A small sample is melted and refined to measure the gold exactly. | Yes, a sample is removed | Laboratory testing: the most accurate method |
If you have a question about the purity of any piece in our shop, ask us. We work only with hallmark-certified gold.
How a gold jewellery price is calculated in Nepal
Jewellers in Nepal price a piece in four steps. Jarti (wastage) is added to the net weight, either as a percentage or as a weight in grams or tola. That weight is multiplied by the day's gold rate, the making charge (jyala) is added, and a luxury tax of 2% goes on top.
- Step 1Net weight + jartijarti (जर्ती): a % or a weight in grams or tola
- Step 2× rate per gramrate per tola ÷ 11.6638
- Step 3+ jyalamaking charge (ज्याला) in rupees
- Step 4+ 2% luxury taxon the gold value and jyala
- ResultFinal pricestones, if any, are priced separately
Diagram 4
Example: a 20 g chain at NPR 2,90,700 per tola
- Gold value20 g + 10% jarti = 22.00 g × NPR 24,923 per gramNPR 5,48,312
- Making charge (jyala)example: NPR 1,500NPR 1,500
- Luxury tax2% of gold value + jyalaNPR 10,996
- Final priceNPR 5,60,808
Jyala varies more than anything else on the bill: a plain chain takes far less work than a filigree bridal set. In December 2024, a commentary in Kantipur described making charges of up to 15% and wastage charges that buyers could not check. The fix is simple: ask for an itemised quote and a bill that shows the jarti, the jyala and the tax separately.
CalculatorWork out the price of any piece with today’s Pokhara rateOpen the Gold Price Calculator →Purity, resale and exchange
When you sell old gold or exchange it for a new piece, the jeweller weighs it, tests the purity and values the gold content at that day's rate. Stones and beads are taken out of the weight, and the making charge you paid originally is usually not returned. That is why purity matters even years after you buy.
A purity checklist for buyers
Questions and answers
Is 22K gold real gold?
Yes. 22K gold is 91.6% pure gold. The remaining 8.4% is other metals that make it strong enough to wear. It is the most common purity for traditional jewellery in Nepal.
What does 916 mean on gold jewellery?
916 is the fineness stamp for 22 karat gold: 916 parts gold in every 1,000. 750 means 18K and 585 means 14K.
Why is diamond jewellery usually 18K?
18K gold is a quarter other metals, which makes it much harder than 22K or 24K. Prongs and settings stay firm, so the stones are held securely.
What is the difference between chhapawal and tejabi gold?
Chhapawal (छापावाल, “stamped”) is the trade name for fine gold, the rate published as hallmark gold. Tejabi is gold of a lower jewellery purity, sold at a lower rate. Ask which rate a price uses.
How do I convert a tola rate into a price per gram?
Divide the tola rate by 11.6638. For example, NPR 2,90,700 per tola is about NPR 24,923 per gram.
How is the price of gold jewellery calculated in Nepal?
For pieces over 1 tola: final price = ((net weight + jarti) × rate + jyala) + luxury tax. Lighter pieces are priced differently. Jarti is a percentage added to the net weight, the rate is the day’s gold rate per gram (the tola rate ÷ 11.6638), jyala is the making charge, and the luxury tax is usually 2%. For example, 20 g at NPR 2,90,700 per tola with 10% jarti, NPR 1,500 jyala and 2% tax comes to about NPR 5,60,808. Try your own numbers in our Gold Price Calculator.
What is jarti on gold jewellery?
Jarti (जर्ती) is the wastage charge: payment for the gold lost while a piece is cut, filed and polished. Jewellers in Nepal add it to every piece, either as a percentage of the net weight or as a weight in grams or tola. A 20 g piece with 10% jarti is charged as 22.00 g. Ask how much applies and check it on the bill.
Does 18K gold tarnish?
Pure gold does not tarnish. Lower karats contain more silver and copper, which can dull slightly over the years. A professional clean and polish restores the shine.
Sources
- The Kathmandu Post Traders now offer 999 fine gold (21 January 2017)
- ShareSansar Hallmark certification for gold, silver introduced (11 November 2014)
- ShareSansar Gold, silver hallmarking system in limbo (21 January 2015)
- The Himalayan Times Hallmarking of gold jewellery to begin soon (26 October 2016)
- Kantipur The burden of wages on gold ornaments (15 December 2024)
- FENEGOSIDA Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association: daily rates
Written by the team at Siddhartha Jewellers, Pokhara. Facts about history and customs are taken from the sources above; customs vary between families and communities.