Gold Buying Guide in Bangladesh: 22K vs 21K, Cadmium Hallmark & Making Charges
Skip karat, hallmark or making charge and you can lose money when you sell. Here is what to check in the shop, what the memo must show, and how much BAJUS usually cuts on old gold.
1. Karat Purity & Exact Gold Percentage
Shops in Bangladesh usually sell 22K, 21K and 18K jewellery. 24K gold is about 99.99% pure, but it is too soft for fine jewellery. Copper, silver or zinc is mixed in to make it hold shape.
How much actual gold sits in each karat:
| Karat | Purity % | Alloy Content | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K (999) | 99.99% Pure | 0.01% | Gold bars, bullion & investment coins |
| 22K (916) | 91.6% Pure | 8.4% Copper/Silver | Traditional bridal jewelry |
| 21K (875) | 87.5% Pure | 12.5% Alloys | Durable daily-wear jewelry |
| 18K (750) | 75.0% Pure | 25.0% Alloys | Diamond jewelry and modern designer wear |
2. How to Verify Cadmium Hallmark Stamps
BAJUS says every gold piece sold should carry a Cadmium hallmark. Older shops sometimes used a painted copper-lead stamp — that is where a lot of cheating used to happen.
Before you pay, use a loupe and look inside the ring or clasp for these three marks:
- Purity number: 916 for 22K, 875 for 21K, 750 for 18K.
- The logo of a BAJUS-approved testing lab.
- The shop or brand’s own seal.
3. Calculating Making Charges (Mojuri)
Jewellery price = (gold weight × that day’s BAJUS rate) + making charge + 5% VAT.
BAJUS sets a floor for making charge — often Tk 300–500 per gram, or from about Tk 3,499 per bhori, more for heavier designs. Some shops show a low gold rate and a high making charge, then call it a “discount”. To compare two shops, split metal and making charge.
- Ask for gold weight and making charge on two separate memo lines.
- On stone-set jewellery, stone weight should not be mixed into the gold weight. Stone price and weight belong on their own lines.
4. Essential Information on Cash Vouchers
The cash memo is your proof of ownership. Lose it and selling later gets hard. Check that these five things are printed clearly:
- The shop’s trade licence, BAJUS membership number and VAT (BIN) number.
- Karat written clearly (for example 22K/916).
- Net weight from a digital scale — in grams and in ana-rati.
- That day’s BAJUS bhori rate.
- The salesperson’s seal and signature.
5. BAJUS Return and Resale Deduction Rules
If you need to sell or swap jewellery, BAJUS shops usually cut this much:
- Exchange: Cadmium-hallmarked gold with the memo, swapped for new jewellery — about 10% off that day’s market value.
- Cash sale: Same hallmarked gold with the memo — about 15% off.
- No memo: Acid or fire assay, and a cut of about 20–25%.
FAQ
How many grams equal 1 Bhori of gold in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, 1 bhori is 11.664 grams — 16 ana. BAJUS and BSTI use this figure.
What is the government VAT rate on gold in Bangladesh?
NBR charges 5% VAT on gold jewellery. Match the rate on the memo you get that day.