What Does 585 Mean on Jewelry?

What the 585 hallmark stamp means, how it relates to 14K gold, and what your piece might be worth.

585 means 14-karat gold — 58.3% pure, worth $94.13 per gram

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

A 585 stamp on jewelry means the piece is 14-karat gold — 58.3% pure gold by weight. The "585" is a rounded hallmark convention in the millesimal fineness system, which expresses gold purity in parts per thousand. The actual gold fraction is 58.33% (14 ÷ 24), and the rest is alloy metal — typically copper, silver, and zinc — added for hardness and durability.

If you've found 585 on a ring or chain, you're looking at the same purity Americans call 14K — the most common standard for gold jewelry in the United States. But knowing the number is just the first step — what matters is whether the stamp is trustworthy and what the piece is actually worth.

585 and 14K: The Same Gold

The karat system divides gold into 24 parts. 14-karat gold is 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy — which works out to 58.33% gold. The millesimal fineness system expresses the same purity as parts per thousand, and 58.33% rounds to the hallmark convention of 585.

A ring stamped 585 and a ring stamped 14K contain the same proportion of gold per gram. The difference is regional convention, not chemistry.

Marking	System	Gold Content	Value/gram
585	Millesimal fineness	58.3%	$94.13
14K	Karat	58.3%	$94.13
583	Soviet-era fineness	58.3%	$94.13

All three marks represent the same gold purity. Prices based on the posted spot price of $5,019.18/oz. See current prices for every karat.

Why 585 Instead of 14K?

The mark on your jewelry tells you something about where it was made. The United States and Canada use the karat system — stamps like 10K, 14K, and 18K. Most of the rest of the world uses millesimal fineness — three-digit numbers like 375, 585, 750, and 916.

If your piece is stamped 585 rather than 14K, it was most likely manufactured in Europe, Russia, India, the Middle East, or Asia. Italian, German, and Russian jewelry commonly carries the 585 mark. Many European countries require fineness stamps by law through official assay offices — government-authorized testing facilities that verify gold purity before a piece can be sold.

In the U.S., hallmarking is voluntary. Manufacturers self-stamp their pieces, and the FTC requires a maker's trademark alongside any karat mark, but there's no government assay office verifying the content. Some pieces carry both marks — "14K 585" — which serves both conventions.

What About 583?

If your piece is stamped 583 instead of 585, it's still 14-karat gold. The difference comes down to rounding.

The exact math: 14 ÷ 24 = 0.58333... In millesimal terms, that's 583.3 parts per thousand. Older hallmarking systems in some countries rounded this down to 583. The international hallmarking convention rounds it up to 585.

If your piece carries a 583 mark, it was likely made in Russia or another former Soviet state before the transition to the 585 standard, or in an older European workshop. The exact timeline of adoption varied by country.

The gold content is essentially the same — the 0.2% theoretical difference has no practical impact on value. A buyer will pay the same per-gram rate for a 583 piece as for a 585 piece.

Where to Find the 585 Stamp

Hallmark stamps are placed in inconspicuous locations to avoid affecting the piece's appearance. A magnifying glass or your phone's camera zoom makes them much easier to read.

Rings

Inside the band, usually near the bottom

Chains & Necklaces

On or near the clasp, or on a small tag

Bracelets

Near the clasp or inside a bangle band

Earrings

On the post, back, or butterfly clutch

Pendants

On the bail (the loop connecting it to the chain)

Brooches

On the back, near the hinge or pin mechanism

You may also see additional marks alongside the 585 stamp — a maker's mark (manufacturer's initials or logo), a country of origin (like "Italy"), or an assay office symbol. These don't affect the purity reading but can provide context about where and when the piece was made.

What 585 Gold Is Worth

The 585 stamp tells you the purity, and the purity determines the gold value per gram. At the posted spot price of $5,019.18 per troy ounce, one gram of 14K (585) gold contains $94.13 worth of pure gold.

To find what a specific piece is worth, you need two things: the weight in grams and the karat. A 5-gram ring stamped 585 contains about 2.92 grams of pure gold. A 15-gram chain contains about 8.75 grams. The rest is alloy.

Item Weight	Pure Gold	Melt Value
3 grams	1.75g	$282.40
5 grams	2.92g	$470.66
10 grams	5.83g	$941.33
20 grams	11.67g	$1,882.65

Melt values at the posted spot price of $5,019.18/oz. For your specific item, enter the weight in our Gold Calculator.

These are melt values — the theoretical worth of the pure gold content at the current spot price. If you sell the piece, a buyer will pay some percentage below melt value. Reputable buyers typically pay 70–90% depending on the channel. Pawn shops pay less; direct refiners pay more. Read our guide to gold melt value for a full explanation of the math and what to expect.

For current gold prices per gram across all karats — including how 585 gold compares to 10K at $67.24/g and 18K at $121.03/g — see our price reference.

What a 585 Stamp Does Not Tell You

A 585 stamp is a strong indicator of 14K gold, but it is not a guarantee. There are several things the mark alone cannot settle.

It doesn't prove the piece is genuine. Stamps can be forged. Counterfeit jewelry with fake fineness marks exists — base metals, gold-plated items, and gold-filled pieces can all carry a 585 stamp that doesn't belong there. In the U.S., where there is no government assay office, the manufacturer self-stamps, and no one verifies the content before sale.
It doesn't determine resale value. Melt value and resale value are different things. A 585 ring from Cartier may be worth many times its gold content. A plain band with no brand name or gemstones is worth close to melt. The stamp tells you the purity — not whether the piece has value beyond the gold itself.
It doesn't mean the entire piece is 585. Solder joints on gold jewelry sometimes use a slightly different alloy than the body of the piece. On composite pieces — like a watch with a gold case and steel back — the stamp applies only to the gold component.
It doesn't tell you about gemstones. If the piece has stones, the stamp says nothing about their type, quality, or value. A diamond set in a 585 ring could be worth more than the gold — or it could be a low-quality stone worth very little.

Watch for misleading letter marks

If you see letters after the number — like 585 GP, 14K GF, or 14K HGE — the piece is not solid gold. GP means gold plated (thin coating over base metal). GF means gold filled (thicker layer, but still not solid). HGE means heavy gold electroplate. Only a stamp of 585 or 14K with no additional letters indicates solid gold. Learn more about the difference between gold filled and gold plated.

What to Do Next

What comes next depends on what you're trying to do with the piece.

Find out what it's worth

Weigh the piece in grams and enter the weight into our Gold Calculator at 14K. You'll see the melt value and an illustrative buyer payout range. If you have multiple pieces, the Scrap Gold Calculator handles a batch at once.

Verify that the piece is actually gold

A 585 stamp is a good sign, but if you want certainty — especially before selling — have the piece tested by a jeweler. An acid test or XRF scan takes minutes and costs little or nothing. Our guide on how to tell if gold is real covers practical tests, including what you can do at home.

Decode a different stamp

Found a number other than 585? Enter any fineness mark — 375, 417, 750, 916, or anything else — into our Gold Hallmark & Purity Lookup to see the karat, purity, and current value per gram.

Sell the piece

Know the melt value before you get quotes — it's the benchmark for evaluating every offer. Get at least two or three quotes and compare each one as a percentage of melt. Our guide on how to sell gold jewelry covers where to sell, what to expect, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Consider whether the piece has value beyond gold

Designer jewelry, antique pieces, and items with significant gemstones can be worth well above melt value. If the piece has a brand name, interesting craftsmanship, or notable stones, get it appraised by a jeweler or estate specialist — not just a scrap gold buyer.

How 585 Compares to Other Gold Purities

Here's how 585 gold compares to the other common purities in gold content and value per gram.

Stamp	Karat	Gold %	Value/gram
375	9K	37.5%	$60.51
417	10K	41.7%	$67.24
585	14K	58.3%	$94.13
750	18K	75.0%	$121.03
916	22K	91.7%	$147.92
999	24K	99.9%	$161.21

Prices at the posted spot price of $5,019.18/oz. For more detail, see Gold Price Per Gram across all karats, or compare 14K vs 18K gold in depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 585 gold real gold?

Yes. A 585 stamp means the piece is 14-karat gold — 58.3% pure gold alloyed with other metals for strength and durability. It is solid gold, not plated or filled. However, a stamp alone is not absolute proof of authenticity. If something seems off — the piece feels unusually light, the color is wrong, or the stamp looks crude — further testing is worth doing.

Is 585 the same as 14K?

Yes. Both describe the same gold purity — 14 parts gold out of 24, which is 58.33% gold. The karat system (14K) is standard in the U.S. and Canada. The millesimal fineness system (585) is standard in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India, and most of Asia. Some pieces carry both marks.

What is the difference between 583 and 585?

Both mean 14-karat gold. The exact math is 14 ÷ 24 = 0.5833, which gives 583.3 in millesimal terms. Some older hallmarking systems rounded down to 583; the international convention rounds up to 585. If your piece is stamped 583, it is 14K gold — likely from Russia or another country that used the older rounding convention. The gold content is essentially identical.

How much is 585 gold worth per gram?

At the posted spot price, 585 (14K) gold is worth $94.13 per gram in pure gold content. That is the melt value — what the gold itself is worth at today's market price. A buyer will pay some percentage below that, typically 70–90% depending on the buyer type. Use our Gold Calculator to find the value of a specific item by weight.

Is 585 gold good quality?

14K (585) gold is the most common jewelry standard in the United States, and for good reason. It has enough gold for a warm color and genuine intrinsic value, but enough alloy to hold up to daily wear. It's harder than 18K gold, more resistant to tarnish than 10K, and what most American jewelers sell for engagement rings, wedding bands, and everyday pieces.

Can a 585 stamp be fake?

Yes. Anyone can stamp a number on metal — a 585 mark does not guarantee the piece is genuinely 14K gold. Counterfeit stamps exist on plated, filled, and base-metal items. If you need certainty, have the piece tested professionally. Most jewelers and pawn shops can do an acid test or XRF scan in minutes. See our guide on how to tell if gold is real for practical verification methods.

What do other gold stamps mean — 375, 750, 916?

These are fineness hallmarks for different karats. 375 = 9K (37.5% gold). 750 = 18K (75% gold, worth $121.03/g). 916 = 22K (91.7% gold). 999 = 24K (pure gold). Use our Gold Hallmark & Purity Lookup to decode any stamp and see its current value per gram.

Where are 585 stamps most commonly used?

The 585 fineness mark is common in many countries outside the U.S. and Canada, including much of Europe and Russia. If your piece is stamped 585 rather than 14K, it was most likely manufactured outside North America. Italian, German, and Russian jewelry frequently carries the 585 mark. The specific hallmarking conventions vary by country.

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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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