Latest news with #995
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
999 Vs 995 Gold: What's The Difference And How to Check 24K Gold Purity
While 999 gold is the purest form of the yellow metal one can own, 995 gold is used as a standard for trading purposes. Buying gold on festive occasions and major life events has been an integral part of Indian culture. Apart from its cultural significance, gold is also one of the most popular investment options across the country. Gold is also often preferred as a safe-haven asset globally in case of geopolitical and economic uncertainties. In the last few months gold price has significantly surged in India amid global uncertainties and rising domestic demand. The price of 24K gold has surged from around Rs 7,800 per gram on January 1, 2025, to nearly Rs 10,000 per gram in July. With increasing demand, it has also become unaffordable for many potential buyers. For this reason, people are opting for lightweight gold jewellery products made of the yellow metal of lower purity. With more options, investors also need to maintain higher caution to ensure that they are paying for the right product. Whether it's 24-karat, also known as 999 gold, or other versions, there is a way to find out the difference. According to the World Gold Council, gold purity is measured in two main ways: karats and fineness. Karat measures how much gold is mixed with other metals. Fineness shows purity in parts per thousand. For example, 24-karat gold has a fineness of 1.000 (24 ÷ 24) and it's considered pure gold. On the other hand, 22-karat gold has a fineness of 0.916 (22 ÷ 24). This means that it is 91.6% gold and 8.4% other metals. In simpler terms, 999 gold is also understood as 99.9% pure gold. Also known as 24-karat gold, it is considered the standard for pure gold and is typically available as coins and gold bars. In 999 gold, the remaining 0.1% refers to trace impurities, which can be tiny amounts of other metals. On the other hand, 995 gold is also a variant of 24-karat gold with slightly more impurities. In this case, for 1,000 grams of purchase, one will get 995 grams of gold mixed with 5 grams of other metals. While 999 gold is the purest form of gold one can own, 995 gold is used as a standard for trading purposes. How To Check If a Product Is 999 Gold? The government-backed Bureau of Indian Standards introduced the hallmarking scheme in 2000 to protect consumers against the adulteration of gold. This scheme was further strengthened by the BIS in 2023. After March 2023, traders are not allowed to sell gold items without a six‑digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification Number (HUID). The BIS has also launched a BIS Care application, where consumers can share the details of the HUID embedded on any jewellery to check their authenticity. Based on HUID, the app will share the details of the item, its purity, manufacturer and other aspects. While HUID-based hallmarking is mandatory for jewellery, the same is not the case for bars and coins. It will still come with a BIS logo and mention of purity, such as 999 or 995 gold on its surface. You can also put the coin or bar through a vinegar test for any discolouration, which will imply impurity. Additionally, genuine gold is non-magnetic, so using a magnet can help detect the extent of mixed metals. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Facelifted Kia Sorento launched in SA: here's what you get for your million rand
The new Kia Sorento is now available in South Africa. Kia has launched its facelifted Sorento in South Africa, boasting a more distinctive exterior design and a smarter cabin. The updated model is available in three variants, with the base 2.2 CRDi EX+ front-wheel drive model, at R999,995, commanding a R60,000 premium over its previous equivalent. The EX+ all-wheel drive (AWD) model falls away, leaving the 2.2 CRDi SX alone in the middle of the line-up, at R1,199,995, while the SXL tops the range at R1,299,995. These models command a R146,000 premium over their predecessors, albeit with upgraded tech and features. Externally, the Kia Sorento has become the third model, after the fully-electric EV9 and facelifted Picanto, to adopt the brand's new design philosophy.
Man of Many
19-06-2025
- Business
- Man of Many
The Wind Up – Watch News #328
By Mr Dimitri Tsilioris - News Published: 15 June 2025 |Last Updated: 10 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 7 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Welcome back to The Wind Up, our weekly series highlighting the newest watches of the past seven days. With Watches & Wonders 2025 now in the rear-view mirror, it's time to set our sights on the future. The world's biggest brands are back on the design block, unveiling a string of incredible haute horology pieces, daily drivers and unique novelties. From dive watches and sports timepieces to the latest in classy dress watches and grand complications, the last few weeks have offered no shortage of stand-out announcements. What's more, it isn't over yet. This week, the world's biggest watchmakers—and a few budding independents—kept the good vibes rolling. In this latest instalment, we'll be featuring some of the coolest new watches, including pieces from the likes of Breguet, Ulysse Nardin and Hublot. Happy reading, fellas, and I hope you have a great week ahead. Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Manufacture | Image: Frederique Constant Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Brand: Frederique Constant Frederique Constant Model: Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Reference: Ref. FC-980MPBL3H8 Ref. FC-980MPBL3H8 Diameter: 39mm 39mm Thickness: 10.99mm 10.99mm Material : White gold : White gold Water Resistance: 30 metres 30 metres Movement: Calibre FC-980-4 Calibre FC-980-4 Power Reserve: 38 hours 38 hours Price: CHF34,995 (Limited to 36 pieces) New from Frederique Constant is the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture, now with a blue-grey mother-of-pearl dial. Encased in a three-part white gold case, the Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Manufacture is an emphatic take on some higher-end watchmaking from Frederique Constant, which has become somewhat synonymous with affordability and accessibility. The mother-of-pearl dial is beautifully paired with a light blue alligator leather strap, complementing the dial's soft yet vivid colour palette. Soft and warm, the unique fusion of subtle grey and blue hues works exceptionally well to enhance the aesthetic of the 18-carat white gold case while also showing off the brilliance of the hand-applied hour markers. The in-house tourbillon is on full display through an aperture at 6 o'clock and sports some really nice architecture. Overall, it's a lovely bit of kit, albeit a touch expensive. Frederique Constant has confirmed that only 36 individually numbered pieces will be produced, each priced at CHF34,995. Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle | Image: Hublot Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle Brand: Hublot Hublot Model: Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle Reference: Ref. Ref. Diameter: 44mm 44mm Thickness: 15.30mm 15.30mm Material : Concrete : Concrete Water Resistance: 50 metres 50 metres Movement: Calibre HUB1201 Calibre HUB1201 Power Reserve: 10 days 10 days Price: AUD$50,800 Hublot is making some serious moves of late. Just a few short weeks after announcing the first tourbillon to arrive in the Square Bang family, the high-end watchmaker has followed it up with a stunning all-purpose beast. The Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle, as the name implies, is an homage to the streets of New York City, arriving complete with a remarkable concrete case and bezel. As Julian Tornare, CEO of Hublot, explained, the industrial component not only plays up to the maison's innovative approach, but also to the raw brutalism that drives the new era of watchmaking. 'Concrete has long been misunderstood as cold and industrial, but in the world of high design, it has become something else entirely—tactile, refined, even expressive,' Tornare said. 'With the Big Bang MECA-10 Concrete Jungle, this timepiece captures the raw energy of New York and the meticulous precision of Swiss watchmaking. This timepiece is dedicated to our new New York Boutique and is crafted from the same material as our new Fifth Avenue boutique's façade.' While there are numerous highlights to call out, the Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle's open-worked dial is perhaps the most impressive of all. The structure houses exposed bridges, wheels, and various indicators, providing a visual feast that feels entirely contemporary, particularly with the dots of red that break up an otherwise monotone look. Of course, the star attraction here is the Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle's 10-day power reserve, thanks to the hand-wound HUB1201 movement. Breguet Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition | Image: Breguet Breguet Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition Bra nd : Breguet Breguet Model: Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition Reference: Ref. 2075BH/G9/398 Ref. 2075BH/G9/398 Diameter: 38.30mm 38.30mm Thickness: 13.20mm 13.20mm Material : Breguet gold : Breguet gold Water Resistance: 50 metres 50 metres Movement: Calibre 7278 Calibre 7278 Power Reserve: 60 hours 60 hours Price: AUD$66,500 (Limited to 250 pieces) Breguet's 250th anniversary celebrations continue with a pair of vintage-inspired chronographs, the highlight of which is undoubtedly the Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition. Encased in the maison's very own gold alloy, the Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition does away with a date window and instead sports an enlarged 15-minute totaliser in the stylised 'Big Eye' enlarged format. It's a unique take on the classic Breguet style, which may well have its detractors, but this is perhaps the most exciting Type XX model released so far. According to Gregory Kissling, CEO of Breguet, the new models provide a glimpse into A-L Breguet's original ethos, right down to the spirit of creation. 'These new Type XX timepieces, with their smaller diameter and hand-wound movement, venerate the design codes of the original models,' Kissling said. Inside, the stunning new timepiece is powered by the calibre 7279, marking the first time the product line has boasted manually wound movements. Essentially a variation of the high-performance, 5 Hz calibre 728 introduced by Breguet in 2023, this movement incorporates a flyback function that allows the watch to be reset to zero and a new count instantly started by a single press of the pusher located at 4 o'clock. You'll also find a 15-minute counter at 3 o'clock and a small seconds display at 9 o'clock. The Type XX Chronographe Limited Edition's manually wound movement is covered by a plate that covers most of its inner workings. However, the plate itself is rather special and features a hand-engraved depiction of the Breguet 19 aeroplane designed by Louis Breguet. According to the brand, the engraving also depicts the precise route taken in 1930, the European and North American landmasses' frosted finishing contrasts against the smooth Atlantic Ocean. Simply stunning, but you would expect nothing less from Breguet. Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gold Enamel | Image: Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gold Enamel Bra nd : Ulysse Nardin Ulysse Nardin Model: Freak X Gold Enamel Freak X Gold Enamel Reference: Ref. 2305-270LE-3AE-BLUE/1A Ref. 2305-270LE-3AE-BLUE/1A Diameter: 43mm 43mm Thickness: 13.38mm 13.38mm Material : Titanium and rose gold : Titanium and rose gold Water Resistance: 50 metres 50 metres Movement: Calibre UN-230 Calibre UN-230 Power Reserve: 72 hours 72 hours Price: USD48,500 (Limited to 120 pieces) Finally, from Ulysse Nardin, is the Freak X Gold Enamel; a nod to the maison's most important product lineup and the classic finery of a rare métier d'art. Featuring a blue PVD titanium and rose gold case, alongside the same incredible rotating heaving mass that the Freak has become synonymous with, this timepiece is every bit a world-stopper. A main point of differentiation with the Freak X Gold Enamel is the blue flinqué enamel dial, which adds another element of drama to a watch that is already super cinematic. According to the brand, the Freak X builds on the same principles as the original Freak, with the entire movement rotating to indicate time. For the uninitiated, the hours are shown by a pointer on a rotating disc, while the movement itself completes a full revolution every hour to mark the minutes. 'This complication, known as a flying carousel, is unique in that the movement is held without an upper bridge, seemingly 'flying' above the hour disc, creating a mesmerising visual and mechanical show.' The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gold Enamel is an exceptional timepiece whose real prowess lies within its mechanism. But with that said, it's always fun to see new iterations of the Freak X, and in the Freak X Gold Enamel that is still absolutely the case.
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
ONGC Q4 results: Net profit falls 35% to ₹6,448 cr on lower oil, gas prices
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) reported a 35 per cent drop in its March quarter net profit as it realised lower oil prices on almost static output. Net profit stood at Rs 6,448 crore in January-March - the fourth quarter of FY25 (April 2024 to March 2025 ) - compared to Rs 9,869 crore in the same period last year, according to a company statement. The firm got $73.72 per barrel of crude oil that it produced and sold to refiners for processing into petrol and diesel in the fourth quarter, down from $80.81 per barrel a year back. Revenue was up 1 per cent at Rs 34,982 crore. ONGC produced 4.7 million tonnes of crude oil in the quarter, marginally lower than 4.714 million tonnes in January-March 2024. Production of natural gas, which is used to generate electricity, make fertiliser and turned into CNG as well as used for cooking in kitchens, was lower at 4.893 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) in Q4 as opposed to 4.951 BCM. For the full fiscal (FY25), ONGC's net profit was down 12 per cent at Rs 35,610 crore on almost unchanged revenue of Rs 1.37 lakh crore. Oil price realisation was down 4.8 per cent at an average of $76.90 per barrel in the full financial year. Gas price in Q4 and the full fiscal year was unchanged at $6.5 per million British thermal unit. "The standalone crude oil production during FY25 was 18.558 million tonnes with an increase of 0.9 per cent over FY24. The standalone natural gas production was 19.654 BCM in FY25 as against 19.978 BCM in FY24," ONGC said. ONGC said it drilled 578 wells, the highest recorded in the past 35 years, comprising 109 exploratory and 469 development wells. The firm had drilled 544 wells in the previous 2023-24 fiscal year. The company is drilling more wells as the government has guaranteed a 10 per cent higher price for any gas produced from new wells. "ONGC invested around Rs 62,000 crore capex in FY25, including Rs 18,365 crore in OPaL, Rs 4,600 crore in ONGC Green Ltd for acquisition of PTC Energy and Ayana Renewables," the statement said adding apex in the previous 2023-24 was Rs 37,494 crore. Its overseas arm, ONGC Videsh Ltd, oil production saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent to 7.265 million tonnes in FY25 from 7.178 million tonnes a year back. "This positive performance was driven by strong contributions from the key operated/ jointly operated assets" in Colombia and in South Sudan, despite geopolitical headwinds, natural decline, and local issues, it said. Gas production output moderated to 3.013 BCM in FY25 from 3.340 BCM in FY24, primarily due to the end of production life in Block 06.1, Vietnam. OVL's turnover was down at Rs12,995 crore during FY25 from Rs13,197 crore in the previous year, mainly due to lower realised crude oil price ($70.23 per barrel as against $71.47 a barrel in FY'25). Net profit was also down at Rs 418 crore in FY25, as against Rs 490 crore (restated) in FY24. ONGC said it made a total of 9 discoveries (5 in onland and 4 in offshore) during FY 2024-25 in its operated acreages. "Eight hydrocarbon discoveries have been monetised during the FY 2024-25, including the two discoveries notified during the fiscal year of 2024-25.
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang submits RM17bil worth of projects under 13MP
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has submitted a list of 128 development projects with an estimated total cost of RM17,228,995,534.17 to Putrajaya under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). The projects, from 26 departments and agencies, include an allocation of RM1.579 billion for the Pan Island Link (Pil) 1 highway project in 2026. The Pil 1 project, with a total estimated cost of RM8.876 billion, is the most expensive among the 128 development proposals submitted to the various ministries. Other proposed projects include RM1.024 billion for a multi-storey block at Kepala Batas Hospital, RM520.03 million for the northeast district health complex, clinic and mental health block at Penang Hospital, RM400 million for the Penang Islamic Hospital, and RM99.21 million for the new Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Juru. State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (DAP Tanjung Bungah) said the allocation required for 2026 alone amounts to RM2,109,812,452.88. "To ensure the efficient and transparent implementation of federal projects in Penang, monitoring is carried out by the Penang State Development Office (ICU), which acts as the main coordinator, in close collaboration with ministries and implementing agencies at both federal and state levels. "This monitoring mechanism includes periodic meetings of the State Development Action Committee, scheduled progress reports, site visits, and regular reporting to the State Development Action Council. "In addition, the MyProjek System, developed by the ICU under the Prime Minister's Department, is used to ensure that project reporting and monitoring are conducted systematically, in a timely manner, and with transparency," he said in a written reply to Lee Khai Loon (PKR Machang Bubuk). Lee had asked for details on the list of proposed projects, including criteria, project types, strategy, and estimated value for the 2026–2030 period. He also sought clarification on the monitoring mechanism used to ensure transparency and efficiency, as well as the state's course of action should project applications be rejected. Elaborating further, Zairil said emphasis is also placed on compliance with project scope, implementation schedules, expenditure, and adherence to established procurement procedures to ensure that each project achieves its intended development goals. "If a project application is not approved by the federal government, the state government will take several measures, including reapplying with improved justifications and implementation designs, and exploring potential public-private partnership models. "We will also consider reprioritising the state's development budget for phased implementation and engage in follow-up negotiations with the relevant ministries to have the project reconsidered in upcoming rolling plans," he added.
