GoldToolkit

Gold Hallmark & Purity Lookup

Found a stamp on your gold jewelry? Enter 585, 750, 916, or any fineness number to instantly see the karat, purity percentage, and current value per gram.

A 585 hallmark means 14K gold — 58.33% pure, worth $94.13 per gram

Based on $5,019.18/oz spot · Updated Mar 15, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC

Enter any value — the others update automatically

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Value Per Gram

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14K

Karat 14K
Exact Gold % 58.33%
Fineness Mark 585

Common Hallmark Stamps

585, 583, 14K, 14KT

Gold Spot $5,019.18/oz
$161.37/g · $250.96/dwt
Updated Mar 15, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC

Gold Purity Reference Chart

Karat Purity % Common Fineness Value/gram
24K 99.9% 999 $161.21
22K 91.7% 916 $147.92
21K 87.5% 875 $141.20
20K 83.3% 833 $134.48
18K 75.0% 750 $121.03
14K 58.3% 585 $94.13
10K 41.7% 417 $67.24
9K 37.5% 375 $60.51
8K 33.3% 333 $53.79

For detailed per-gram, per-dwt, and per-troy-ounce prices, see Gold Price Per Gram.

When to Use This Tool

Use this tool when you've found a stamp on gold jewelry and want to know what it means. Enter any fineness number — 585, 750, 916, or anything else — and immediately see the karat, exact purity percentage, and current value per gram.

If you already know the karat and want to calculate the value of a specific item, the Gold Calculator is the right tool — enter weight and karat to get the melt value.

If you want a per-gram price reference for all karats side by side, use Gold Price Per Gram.

Not sure if the piece is real gold at all? Our guide on how to tell if gold is real covers the tests that actually work. If the stamp says GP, GF, or HGE, the item isn't solid gold — see gold filled vs gold plated to understand what you have.

Common Gold Stamps Quick Reference

These are the hallmark fineness stamps you're most likely to find on gold jewelry, coins, and bullion. Each number shows how much of the metal is actually gold, expressed in parts per thousand.

375

9 Karat — 37.5% gold

Common in UK and Australian jewelry. Durable and affordable. Historically below the U.S. 10K threshold, but the FTC's 2018 revision now permits below-10K gold with fineness disclosure. Still uncommon in U.S. retail.

417

10 Karat — 41.7% gold

The most common entry-level karat in U.S. jewelry. Found in class rings, affordable chains, and everyday pieces. How it compares with 14K.

585

14 Karat — 58.3% gold

The most common U.S. jewelry standard — rings, wedding bands, chains. Worth $94.13/g. Older pieces may show 583 instead.

750

18 Karat — 75.0% gold

European fine jewelry standard. Worth $121.03/g. "750 Italy" stamps are common on Italian-made chains and bracelets. How it compares with 14K.

916

22 Karat — 91.6% gold

Common in South Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry. Also the purity of American Gold Eagle coins. Worth $147.92/g.

999

24 Karat — 99.9% gold

Pure gold — bullion bars and investment coins (Maple Leaf, Panda). Worth $161.21/g. Too soft for most everyday jewelry.

To calculate what your gold item is worth by weight, use our Gold Calculator.

Understanding Gold Purity

Gold purity is described in three ways: karat (parts per 24), exact percentage, and millesimal fineness (parts per thousand). They all express the same thing — how much of the metal is actually gold.

The karat system divides gold into 24 parts. 18K means 18 parts gold and 6 parts alloy (copper, silver, zinc, palladium, or nickel), for exactly 75.00% gold. 14K means 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy — 58.33% gold. The alloy metals improve hardness and can change the color (copper produces rose gold, for instance).

Fineness marks on hallmarks are trade conventions, not exact algebra. A 14K item is 58.33% gold by karat math, but the international hallmark rounds to 585. Older European pieces may show 583 instead — this reflects the unrounded fraction (0.5833 × 1000 = 583.3). Both 583 and 585 mean 14K, and the actual gold content is identical.

In the U.S., karat stamps (10K, 14K, 18K) are the norm. Most European, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries use fineness stamps (375, 585, 750, 916, 999). Some pieces carry both.

Where to Find Hallmark Stamps

Hallmarks are tiny stamps pressed into gold items to indicate purity. They can be hard to read without magnification — a jeweler's loupe or your phone's camera zoom will help.

Rings

Inside the band, usually on the inner surface

Chains & Necklaces

On or near the clasp, or on a small attached tag

Bracelets

Near the clasp, same as chains

Earrings

On the post, back, or butterfly clutch

Additional stamps you might see include KP (karat plumb — means the gold content meets or exceeds the stated karat), a maker's mark (initials or logo of the manufacturer), and country-of-origin stamps like "Italy" or "Turkey." These don't affect purity — only the karat or fineness number tells you the gold content.

Not Solid Gold? Common Letter Marks

If you see letters after a karat number — like "14K GP" or "18K HGE" — the item is not solid gold. The karat number describes the thin gold layer, not the whole piece. Here are the marks to watch for:

Stamp Meaning
GP Gold Plated
GEP Gold Electroplated
HGE Heavy Gold Electroplate
GF Gold Filled
RGP Rolled Gold Plate

Important: Do not value GP, GEP, or HGE items as solid gold — the gold coating is too thin to have meaningful scrap value. Gold-filled (GF) items contain more gold and may have modest value in bulk. For details, see gold filled vs gold plated.

What to Do After You Identify the Stamp

Find out what the item is worth

Enter the weight and karat into our Gold Calculator to see the melt value instantly. If you have multiple pieces, the Scrap Gold Calculator handles a batch at once.

Check the price per gram for this karat

Our Gold Price Per Gram page shows prices for every karat in grams, pennyweight, and troy ounces.

Verify the piece is actually gold

A hallmark stamp is a strong indicator, but not absolute proof. If something seems off — the piece feels too light, the color is wrong, or you're just not sure — see our guide on how to tell if gold is real.

Understand what melt value means

The per-gram value shown by this tool is the melt value — the worth of the pure gold at the posted spot price. Buyers pay some percentage below melt. For a clear explanation of why, see Gold Melt Value Explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 585 mean on gold jewelry?
585 is a fineness hallmark meaning the item is 14-karat gold — 58.3% pure gold by weight. It's the most common gold purity in American jewelry. Older pieces may show 583 instead of 585; both mean 14K. At the posted spot price, 585 gold is worth $94.13 per gram. See current 14K gold prices for a full breakdown.
Is 585 gold real gold?
A genuine 585 stamp indicates 14-karat gold — 58.3% pure gold alloyed with other metals for durability. It should mean the item is solid gold, not plated or filled. However, stamps alone are not absolute proof — counterfeit or misleading stamps do exist. If anything seems off (weight, color, finish), have the piece tested. See our guide on how to tell if gold is real.
Is 585 the same as 14K?
Yes. 14K means 14 parts gold out of 24 (58.33%). The 585 hallmark rounds this to 58.5 in the fineness system (parts per thousand). Older pieces may be stamped 583, which is also 14K. In the U.S., karat stamps like 14K are more common; in Europe, fineness stamps like 585 are the norm.
What does 750 mean on gold?
750 is the fineness hallmark for 18-karat gold — 75.0% pure. It's the standard in European fine jewelry and luxury brands, worth $121.03 per gram at the posted spot price. Items stamped "750 Italy" are 18K gold manufactured in Italy, one of the world's major centers for fine gold jewelry. See our 14K vs 18K comparison for how it compares with 585/14K gold.
What does 916 mean on gold jewelry?
916 is the fineness hallmark for 22-karat gold — 91.67% pure. It's common in South Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry, and is also the purity of American Gold Eagle coins. At the posted spot price, 916 gold is worth $147.92 per gram. The high gold content gives it a deep yellow color but makes it softer than 14K or 18K.
What does '750 Italy' stamped on jewelry mean?
It means the piece is 18-karat gold (75% pure) manufactured in Italy. Italy is one of the world's leading producers of gold jewelry, particularly chains, bracelets, and fine metalwork. The 750 indicates purity, and "Italy" indicates country of origin — both stamps together are a common marking on quality European jewelry.
What is the difference between 583 and 585 on gold?
Both mean 14-karat gold. The number 583 reflects the exact karat math (14 ÷ 24 = 0.5833), while 585 is the rounded hallmark convention adopted internationally. Older pieces — especially those made before the 1980s or from certain European countries — may show 583. The gold content is essentially the same; the difference is only in how the number is rounded for the stamp.
What gold stamp indicates the highest value?
999 or 999.9 stamps indicate the highest purity — essentially pure gold (24K), worth $161.21 per gram at the posted spot price. Higher purity means more gold per gram and higher melt value. However, for jewelry, 18K (750) and 22K (916) pieces may carry additional value beyond melt for craftsmanship. Use our Gold Calculator to find the melt value at any karat.
What do GP, GF, and HGE mean on jewelry?
These letters indicate the item is not solid gold. GP = gold plated (a thin gold coating over base metal, negligible gold content). GF = gold filled (a thicker gold layer mechanically bonded to base metal, at least 1/20 of total weight). GEP = gold electroplated. HGE = heavy gold electroplate. RGP = rolled gold plate. None of these should be valued as solid gold. Learn more about the difference between gold filled and gold plated.
What is millesimal fineness?
Millesimal fineness expresses gold purity in parts per thousand. A stamp of 750 means 750 parts gold per 1,000 parts total (75% pure). This system is used internationally and is the basis for hallmark stamps: 999 (24K), 916 (22K), 750 (18K), 585 (14K), 417 (10K), and 375 (9K).
How do I find the hallmark stamp on my jewelry?
Use a magnifying glass or your phone's camera zoom. On rings, check the inside of the band. On chains and bracelets, look near the clasp or on the clasp tag. On earrings, check the posts or backs. On pendants, check the bail (the loop that attaches to the chain) or the reverse side. Stamps are small and can take some effort to find. If there's no stamp, see our guide on how to tell if gold is real.
What's the difference between karat and carat?
Karat (K) measures gold purity — how much of an alloy is gold. Carat (ct) measures gemstone weight, where 1 carat = 0.2 grams. In U.S. usage, karat refers to gold purity and carat refers to gem weight. Some countries use "carat" for both.

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Data Source

Spot-price data is provided via metals.dev. Last updated Mar 15, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC. Methodology

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