What Does 990 Mean on Gold?
990 on gold means it is 99.0% pure gold — 24K, "full gold" (足金). It is the minimum purity for gold sold as 足金 ("full gold") in mainland China and Hong Kong, and is close enough to 24K that it is often called that. Today 1 gram of 990 gold contains $123.39 of gold (₹11,731), Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC.
990 gold value today
| 10 g | $1,234 |
|---|---|
| 1 tola (11.66 g) | $1,439 |
| 1 troy oz (31.1 g) | $3,838 |
| 8 g (sovereign / pavan) | $987 |
Where you'll see 990
- Chinese and Hong Kong jewellery marked 足金 ("full gold"), which must be at least 99.0% gold
- One of the UK's six legal gold standards
Also stamped: 足金, Au990, 23.76K.
Compared with its neighbours: 995 (24K) has 0.5 percentage points more gold, $124.02 per gram. 958 (23K) has 3.2 percentage points less gold, $119.40 per gram.
Gold purity marks and what 1 gram is worth today
| Mark | Karat | Gold content | Gold in 1 g today | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 999.9 | 24K | 99.99% | $124.63 | Investment bars from 1 g to 1 kg |
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% | $124.51 | Gold bars and coins |
| 995 | 24K | 99.5% | $124.02 | Large bars traded between banks (the London Good Delivery minimum is 99.5%) |
| 990 | 24K | 99.0% | $123.39 | Chinese and Hong Kong jewellery marked 足金 ("full gold"), which must be at least 99.0% gold |
| 958 | 23K | 95.8% | $119.40 | Indian jewellery hallmarked "23K958" by BIS |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% | $114.17 | Most jewellery in India, Pakistan, the Gulf, Singapore and Malaysia |
| 875 | 21K | 87.5% | $109.06 | The most popular jewellery gold in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and much of the Middle East |
| 833 | 20K | 83.3% | $103.82 | Indian jewellery hallmarked "20K833" by BIS |
| 750 | 18K | 75.0% | $93.48 | Fine jewellery worldwide, especially diamond and gem-set pieces |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% | $72.91 | Most jewellery sold in the US, Canada, Russia and much of Europe |
| 500 | 12K | 50.0% | $62.32 | The lowest permitted gold standard in the UAE |
| 417 | 10K | 41.7% | $51.97 | Budget jewellery and class rings in the US and Canada |
| 375 | 9K | 37.5% | $46.74 | The UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada |
| 333 | 8K | 33.3% | $41.50 | Germany and parts of Central Europe, mostly older and inexpensive jewellery |
990 Gold: FAQ
What does 990 mean on gold?
It is the fineness, in parts per thousand of pure gold: 990 means 99.0% of the metal is gold, which is 24K. It is the minimum purity for gold sold as 足金 ("full gold") in mainland China and Hong Kong, and is close enough to 24K that it is often called that.
How much is 990 gold worth per gram today?
About $123.39 of gold per gram (₹11,731; ₹1,17,314 per 10 g), Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC, at the international price. A shop adds making charges and taxes when you buy; a buyer deducts a margin when you sell. Switch the currency in the table on this page.
What does 足金 mean on gold?
足金 ("full gold") means at least 990 parts per thousand of gold. Older Chinese pieces may say 千足金 ("thousand-full gold", at least 999); mainland China stopped allowing that name on new labels in 2016, so new pieces of 999 gold are labelled 足金 too.
Is 990 gold hallmarked?
The number alone is a purity mark, which in some countries the maker stamps and in others an assay office does. A full hallmark adds an independent mark: in India the BIS logo and a six-digit HUID, in the UK an assay office mark and the sponsor's mark. See hallmark rules by country.
Related
Gold values use the live international price (Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC). A stamp is the maker's or assay office's claim; only a test (XRF or fire assay) shows what a piece contains. Hallmarking rules by country: how to check gold purity.