FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Live Gold Prices
Straight answers on spot versus shop tickets, GST and VAT, scrap spreads, hallmark checks, and why futures rollover rarely changes a bridal making charge.
Independent editorial reference · verify market data and local rules before a transaction.
Updated August 29, 2026
Most gold questions are not abstract. They sound like: “Why is the souk higher than my phone?” “Will GST reverse on exchange?” “Is 21K better than 22K?” Below are practical answers, with live tools where numbers help more than definitions.
How often do prices update on this site?
The live dashboard refreshes continuously during active market periods and re-anchors to market-linked references on a frequent schedule. Always glance at the timestamp. Weekends and local holidays can thin liquidity even when a page still moves.
What is spot price?
Spot is the wholesale-style reference for gold for near-term settlement, commonly discussed in USD per troy ounce within the global market that includes London wholesale conventions associated with the LBMA framework. Spot is the compass. It is not automatically the cashier total for jewelry.
Why is my dealer higher or lower than the website?
Dealers fund rent, staff, security, assay, and inventory risk. Selling to the public usually means spot plus premium. Buying from the public often means a bid under spot. In Dubai, making charges and VAT category drive much of the gap. In India, making charges and GST lines do the same. Ask for an itemized breakdown before declaring anyone “wrong.”
How do 24K, 22K, 21K, and 18K differ?
Purity fractions drive melt value: 24K ≈ pure reference, 22K ≈ 91.6%, 21K ≈ 87.5%, 18K = 75%. Multiply pure gold per gram by purity. Craftsmanship can still dominate the ticket after that—especially on bridal work in India and the Gulf.
What should I know about GST in India?
On many jewelry purchases, gold value, making charges, and GST should be visible as separate ideas even when printed compactly. Exchange offers that look generous on old gold can reload making and tax on the new invoice. Compare both sides. Hallmark/HUID checks help verify purity; they do not freeze making charges.
What should I know about VAT in the UAE and Europe?
In the UAE, qualifying investment-grade bullion and everyday jewelry can sit in different VAT conversations. Confirm whether a quote is VAT-inclusive and which product category you are buying. In much of Europe and in the UK, investment gold that meets legal definitions may benefit from VAT relief frameworks that do not apply to fashion jewelry. Tourists who chase sticker gaps without checking category and import rules often lose the “edge” at the border.
How do scrap buy-backs work?
Melt-oriented buy-backs price purity × weight × local metal reference × (1 − buy spread), sometimes minus assay fees. Original making charges from years ago usually do not return. Designer pieces sometimes find a resale channel; broken plain jewelry usually does not.
Does currency devaluation change gold in my country?
Yes. If INR, EUR, or GBP weakens against USD, local-currency gold can rise even when USD spot is flat. AED’s dollar peg mutes that channel; UAE shoppers feel premiums and VAT more than FX translation. Always watch spot and FX together when your income is not in dollars.
Do futures discounts mean cheaper jewelry tomorrow?
Usually no. Contango and backwardation describe wholesale curve economics and positioning. They do not print making-charge coupons for bridal sets with multi-day fabrication lead times. Use futures as mood context, not as a rebate code.
Are your karat rates the same as local city boards?
No. They are transparent market-linked estimates from spot, purity, and FX. Indian city boards and Gulf shop boards embed domestic premiums and conventions. Use this site as a global reference layer, then cross-check local boards and dealers.
Do you give investment advice?
No. This is information and education. We do not know your goals, debts, or risk tolerance. For advice, speak with a qualified professional where you live.
How do I avoid scams?
Use reputable counterparties. Be skeptical of “far below market” offers without paperwork. Verify hallmark trails, company identity, and custody terms for online sellers. Real gold transactions survive documentation.
Which details should I save when I compare a quote?
Save the page or board you consulted, the date and time, the currency, the weight unit, the karat or fineness, and whether the figure was a public selling price or a buyer’s bid. For jewellery, keep the gross weight and net gold weight separate. Photographing the invoice can help, but redact payment details and identity numbers before sharing it with anyone who does not need them. A record made at the moment of the quote is more useful than trying to reconstruct the inputs after the market has moved.
If two results differ, compare the inputs in this order: ounce convention, currency observation, unit, purity, net weight, and commercial additions. Do not change a mathematically stated factor simply to force an online estimate to match a shop total. The gap may be a premium, making charge, tax, stone line, assay deduction, or buy-sell spread. Asking for each component turns a vague disagreement into a question that the counterparty can answer in writing.
What should I do if an article or source link is wrong?
Send the page address, the sentence or calculation in question, the date you noticed it, and a reliable supporting source through the contact page. For a live-price concern, include the displayed currency, karat, timestamp, and status label; a number without those details cannot be reproduced reliably. The publishing desk can review a factual correction, broken reference link, or unclear explanation, but contacting the site does not change a dealer’s quote or guarantee a reply.
This approach separates a correction from personal trading or tax advice. Market data can be delayed, official rules can change, and a local seller may apply terms that are not visible in a global reference. Check the update date and the relevant official authority before relying on a time-sensitive conclusion.
FAQ for general information only. Confirm live figures, taxes, and local terms before you transact.