22K / 916 gold value in Canada: grams, tolas and jewellery

22K and 916 are close, but not identical arithmetic

A 916 fineness mark describes 916 parts of gold per thousand, or 91.6%. The mathematical fraction 22 ÷ 24 is approximately 91.6667%. Meridian’s 22K preset uses 0.916 so the assumption is visible and consistent with the 916 examples here. Neither a stamp nor a calculator verifies an individual item’s composition.

Read the whole mark. A plated or filled designation describes a layer over another material and must not be treated as a solid 916 alloy by multiplying the entire item’s weight by 0.916. If marks conflict or are unreadable, record them and seek verification rather than selecting the highest purity.

Sources: Competition Bureau: precious-metals quality marks

Worked examples in grams and tolas

The table uses an illustrative pure-gold reference of C$200 per gram, equivalent to C$6,220.70 per troy ounce using 31.1035 grams per ounce. It is deliberately a scenario, not today’s market price. At that reference, each eligible gram of a 916 alloy contains C$183.20 of gold.

We use the conventional tola conversion of 11.6638 grams. A piece described as ‘one tola’ should still be weighed; its name is not a scale reading. The examples assume the full stated weight is eligible alloy and contain no stones or other non-gold components.

Move from gross weight to eligible weight

Suppose a necklace weighs 30 grams, but a verified breakdown attributes 2 grams to stones and non-gold parts. The metal calculation starts from 28 grams, not 30. At the same illustrative C$200 reference and 0.916 purity, contained-gold value is C$5,129.60 rather than C$5,496.00. That C$366.40 difference is a weight adjustment, not a dealer fee.

Ask for each adjustment separately: gross weight, excluded material, eligible alloy weight and purity used. Measurement Canada’s guidance identifies requirements for scales used to trade precious metals by weight. A home kitchen scale may help organise items but should not be mistaken for a verified trade measurement.

Sources: Measurement Canada: buying precious metals by weight

Contained value is not the amount payable

If an item’s verified contained-metal reference were C$4,580 and an independent buyer offered C$4,100 net, the effective payout would be about 89.5%. The C$480 difference should be explained by the buyer’s commercial terms and any item-specific costs. These are hypothetical figures, not Meridian payout rates or a target you should expect.

Avoid deducting a cost twice. If a quoted payout percentage already includes a testing charge, adding that charge again understates the amount payable. Ask for the actual net amount, all deductions and the conditions that could change it after verification.

Jewellery can be worth more than its metal

Craftsmanship, a recognised maker, condition, provenance and collector demand may support a resale path above melt. Sentimental or cultural value is a separate reason to retain an item. An estate piece should not be committed to an irreversible scrap process simply because a calculator can produce a number.

Keep receipts or prior appraisals, photograph hallmarks for your own record and separate pieces by declared purity. Before any dealer removes stones or performs a destructive test, understand the proposed process and consent terms. Meridian’s tools can help you prepare; they do not book an assessment, accept metal or provide an appraisal.