Fineness is the share of pure gold, silver or platinum in a piece of metal, written in parts per thousand. Gold marked 999.9 is 99.99% pure, while 916 jewellery gold is 91.6% pure.
How to read fineness marks
Fineness is stamped as a number out of 1,000. Bullion bars and coins carry it next to the weight, while Singapore jewellery shops label pieces with the same number, so a bangle tagged "916" is gold of 91.6% purity with the rest made of other metals for strength and colour.
| Mark | Purity | Where you see it in Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| 999.9 ("four nines") | 99.99% | Maple Leaf, Kangaroo, Buffalo, most cast and minted bars |
| 999 | 99.9% | Silver coins and bars, some gold jewellery labelled 999 or "24K" |
| 995 | 99.5% | Large LBMA Good Delivery bars, minimum for gold IPM |
| 916 or 916.7 | 91.6 to 91.67% | 22K jewellery, gold Krugerrand and gold American Eagle |
| 750 | 75% | 18K jewellery and watches |
Why fineness matters more in Singapore than elsewhere
Fineness decides tax here. Under the IRAS rules for Investment Precious Metals, gold must be at least 99.5% pure, silver at least 99.9% and platinum at least 99% to be GST-exempt. A 916 coin or bangle falls below the line and is charged GST at 9%. Read more in the IPM and GST rules.
Fineness also decides what you get back. A dealer or jeweller buying 916 gold pays on the fine content, then deducts refining and handling. That deduction is part of the bid-ask spread.
Worked example: a 916 chain versus a 50 g bar
A 20 g chain of 916 gold contains 20 x 0.916 = 18.32 g of fine gold. A 50 g gold bar of 999.9 fineness contains 49.995 g. To compare value, multiply the fine weight by the gold price per gram in SGD. Everything you pay above that is workmanship, GST or dealer margin.
Checking marks and avoiding fakes
Singapore buyers usually rely on the refiner or mint mark rather than a national hallmark. For IPM bars, IRAS expects the bar to carry the refiner's name or hallmark and its fineness, and the refiner must be on the LBMA Good Delivery list or endorsed by Enterprise Singapore. For coins, the mint's design and the stated fineness work as the guarantee. A stamp alone is easy to copy, so weigh and measure coins and compare them with official specifications. Our guide on spotting fake gold and silver coins shows the checks for each popular coin.
Fineness and karat describe the same thing on two scales: 999 is 24K, 916 is 22K, 750 is 18K.
Related terms
Karat Investment Precious Metals (IPM) and GST Bid-Ask Spread Troy Ounce
FAQ
What does 916 gold mean?
916 gold is 91.6% pure gold, the same as 22 karat, and it is the standard for most gold jewellery sold in Singapore.
Is 999 gold better than 916 gold?
999 gold contains more gold per gram and qualifies for GST exemption as a bar or listed coin, while 916 gold is harder and better suited to jewellery that is worn every day.
What fineness is needed for GST-free gold in Singapore?
Gold must be at least 99.5% pure, and also meet the other IRAS criteria for Investment Precious Metals, to be exempt from GST.