You bought a set for your wedding at the full rate plus making charges. Years later you go to sell it and the jeweller’s offer is far below today’s gold rate. The difference comes from something every Pakistani gold owner should understand: kaat.
Why Jewellers Deduct Kaat
- Solder and alloy: jewellery joints use solder that is lower purity than the piece itself.
- Uncertain karat: without proof, the jeweller assumes lower purity to protect himself.
- Melting and refining loss: old gold must be melted before reuse, and a little is lost.
- Stones, wax and lacquer: filled bangles and kundan pieces contain non-gold weight.
- Profit margin: the buy-back price is always below the selling price.
Units Used: Tola, Masha and Ratti
Traditional Pakistani weights still matter when selling: 1 tola = 12 masha = 96 ratti, and 1 ratti is about 0.12 grams. So a kaat of “2 ratti per tola” means about 2% of the weight is deducted. Check current values on our rate per ratti and rate per masha pages.
Worked Example
Suppose you sell 2 tola of 21K jewellery, the 21K rate is Rs 385,000 per tola, and the jeweller applies a kaat of 3 ratti per tola.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Total kaat | 3 ratti × 2 tola | 6 ratti |
| Kaat in tola | 6 ÷ 96 | 0.0625 tola |
| Net weight paid for | 2 − 0.0625 | 1.9375 tola |
| Amount you receive | 1.9375 × 385,000 | Rs 745,938 |
| Lost to kaat | 0.0625 × 385,000 | Rs 24,063 |
Kaat rates vary a lot between shops, which is why comparing offers can easily be worth tens of thousands of rupees.
Selling vs Exchanging
Most jewellers apply lower kaat when you exchange old gold for new jewellery from the same shop, because they earn making charges on the new piece. If you plan to buy anyway, exchange can be the better deal. If you need cash, shop around.
9 Tips to Reduce Kaat
- Bring the original receipt. The shop that sold it often gives the best buy-back terms.
- Know the karat. Get an XRF test first so nobody can claim it is lower. See our hallmark guide.
- Check today’s rate before you go. Use our old gold rate and buying vs selling rate pages.
- Get at least three quotes. Ask each shop for the kaat in ratti per tola and the final amount in writing.
- Remove stones yourself if possible. Or insist stone weight is measured and subtracted separately, not charged as gold kaat.
- Watch the scale. Make sure it is zeroed and weighs in grams or tola visibly.
- Do not sell filled pieces as solid. Hollow or wax-filled bangles will be weighed after cutting; know this beforehand.
- Sell bars and coins instead of jewellery when possible. Biscuits and coins carry little or no kaat.
- Avoid desperate timing. Selling on a day the rate has spiked up is better than after a fall. Watch the weekly trend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is kaat applied on 24K gold bars?
Usually very little, because bars are already pure and stamped. Jewellery carries the highest kaat.
Is kaat legal?
Yes. It is a normal trade practice, but it must be disclosed. Always ask for the calculation in writing.
Do I get making charges back when I sell?
No. Making charges are lost when you sell jewellery. This is why jewellery is a weaker investment than bars. Read our bars vs jewellery vs coins guide.
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