How to Distinguish Gold Purity?
Learn to Ensure You Buy Genuine Gold!

Learn to distinguish gold purity, clarify the meanings of pure gold, karat gold, and 999.9 gold, master Hong Kong's pure gold standards, safeguard your gold investments and jewelry purchases, and easily avoid fake gold jewelry.

Recently, the gold price has remained at a high level. Whether for investment and value preservation or daily wear, it is believed that many prudent consumers have considered purchasing goldopens in a new tab. However, faced with a wide variety of gold products in the market, how should one distinguish between real and fake gold? What do complex terms such as "pure gold", "karat gold" and "999.9" respectively represent?

Don't worry! This guide aims to decipher the secret terminology of the gold market, teach you how to identify gold purity, and help you transform from a novice to an expert, enabling you to make purchases with complete peace of mind.

Understanding "Real Gold" – Start with Grasping "Pure Gold"

As the saying goes, "True gold fears no fire," but the first step is to understand what "pure gold" is recognized by law and the industry.

The Wish Collection 999 Pure Gold Pendant draws inspiration from traditional Eastern jewellery locks, symbolizing the locking of emotions and beautiful wishes.

Purity Standards Vary by Region

Simply put, "pure gold" is a concept describing gold purity, while the definition of "足金 (pure gold)" varies according to regional regulations. In mainland China, gold with a gold content of 990 parts per thousand (i.e., 99%) can be called "足金" or "Au990."

However, the Hong Kong gold market follows stricter regulations. According to Hong Kong laws and regulations, only gold with a gold content of 999 parts per thousand (i.e., 99.9%) or above can be called "足金" and stamped with "Au 999" or "足金." The commonly seen "999.9 pure gold" or "千足金 (thousand pure gold)" on the market represents a gold content as high as 99.99%, which can be regarded as a higher standard within pure gold.

Is There a Big Difference Between 999 and 999.9 Pure Gold?

99.9% and 99.99% may sound like they only differ by 0.09%, but is there an actual difference?

999 Pure Gold: Gold purity of 99.9%
999.9 Pure Gold: Gold purity of 99.99%

From the perspective of investment and value preservation, 999.9 pure gold has higher purity and higher refining costs, and usually has more detailed quotations in the international raw material market. However, precisely because it is "purer", its texture is slightly softer than 999 pure gold and requires a little extra care when wearing. For investors or collectors pursuing ultimate purity, this 0.09% represents a higher standard.

Pursuing higher fineness is not only a sign of integrity but also a reflection of craftsmanship. As early as 1972, Chow Tai Fook pioneered the launch of 999.9 gold jewellery in Hong Kong and Macau, setting a quality benchmark for the market with higher standards.

Buying Tips

The most reliable way is to check the pure gold mark on the product (such as "Au 999" or "足金") when purchasing and ask for an official receipt. This can ensure from the source that you are buying real gold that complies with regulations, avoiding fake gold or products with insufficient fineness.

chiikawa

Hachiware 999 Gold charm

Newborn Collection - Ebifurai no shippo 999 Gold charm

chiikawa

Hachiware 999 Gold charm

Newborn Collection - Ebifurai no shippo 999 Gold charm

Debunking Market Terminology Myths — What Are Karat Gold and Platinum?

With the development of craftsmanship, there are more and more terms in jewellery stores, which often confuse people. Are they gold? What about their fineness?

Karat Gold: Fashionable and Colorful Gold Alloy

Karat Goldopens in a new tab is essentially an alloy of gold with other metals such as silver, copper, and palladium. Adding other metals can increase its hardness and create a variety of colors, such as classic yellow karat gold, elegant white karat gold, and romantic rose gold.

The "K" number represents the proportion of gold content. 24K is theoretically pure gold, while the most common 18K gold has a gold content of 75%, and 14K gold is 58.5%. Karat gold is hard, wear-resistant, and not easily deformed, making it ideal for inlaying dazzling gemstones and the first choice for designers to create fashionable jewellery.

Glee

18K/750 Rose Gold necklace

INSIDE/OUT

18K/750 Rose Gold diamond necklace

ING KNOT

18K/750 White Gold diamond ring

JOIE COLLECTION

18K/750 Yellow Gold diamond earrings

Glee

18K/750 Rose Gold necklace

INSIDE/OUT

18K/750 Rose Gold diamond necklace

ING KNOT

18K/750 White Gold diamond ring

JOIE COLLECTION

18K/750 Yellow Gold diamond earrings

Platinum: A Rare White Precious Metal

First, we need to clarify an important concept: Platinumopens in a new tab is another type of precious metal, not gold. Its chemical symbol is Pt, it is naturally pure white, and it is rarer than gold.

According to Hong Kong's Trade Descriptions (Marking) (Platinum) Order, only platinum with a purity of 990 per thousand (99%) or above can be called "足白金" or "足鉑金". Due to the relatively soft texture of pure platinum, most jewellery on the market uses Pt950 alloy (i.e., 95% platinum + 5% other metals) to improve durability. With its pure and permanently non-fading characteristics, platinum has become a classic choice for wedding ringsopens in a new tab among many new couples.

Perfect Love

Pt950 Platinum wedding band

VELA

Pt950 Platinum diamond ring

ROUGE COLLECTION

Pt950 Platinum necklace

Hearts On Fire

Pt950 Platinum diamond necklace

Perfect Love

Pt950 Platinum wedding band

VELA

Pt950 Platinum diamond ring

ROUGE COLLECTION

Pt950 Platinum necklace

Hearts On Fire

Pt950 Platinum diamond necklace

In summary, jewellery of different materials has its own charm. The most important principle is that no matter which one you choose, protecting your own rights and interests is fundamental. Be sure to purchase from reputable merchants, check the fineness marks on the products (such as "足金", "Au999", "Pt950"), and ask for an official receipt clearly stating the product name, weight, fineness and price. This is the strongest line of defense to avoid mistakenly purchasing fake goldware or jewellery and protect your investment.

Mastering the knowledge of gold fineness is the foundation for distinguishing real gold. You will be more confident in exploring the world of gold and jewellery, and while appreciating the exquisite craftsmanship, ensure that every choice is worth the money.