What does 916 gold mean?
916 refers to fineness: 916 parts of pure gold per 1,000 parts of metal, or approximately 91.6% gold purity. It is the millesimal equivalent of 22 karat (22 ÷ 24 = 0.9166…), so "916 gold" and "22K gold" describe the same alloy. The remaining 8.4% is typically copper and silver, added to make the metal hard enough for daily wear.
In the UK, everyday jewellery is most commonly 9K (375) or 18K (750) rather than 22K, and every piece above a minimal weight must carry a legal hallmark struck by an assay office such as London or Birmingham. 22K and 24K pieces are mostly limited to bullion-style jewellery and coins.