10 karat gold – 417 (sometimes marked as 416). All jewelry sold in the US must be at least 10 karats in order to be marketed as gold. 12 karat gold – 500. You won't see much 12K jewelry since it tends to be fairly dull in color. 14 karat gold – 583 (sometimes marked as 585)
Usually you will find 750, 585 and 417 gold markings, which only mean that each piece is 75%, 58.5% and 41.7%gold and the rest of it is alloy. In a simpler term the 750 gold stands for 18 karat or 18K, 585 gold is 14 karat or 14K and the 417 gold is for 10 karat or 10K.
The three numbers represent the percentage purity. For example, the marking '417' means 41.7% gold, which is 10 karats. Using this same format, 14 karat pieces are marked '583' (sometimes '585') and 18 karat pieces are marked '750,' and so on.
416 or 417 marked gold merchandise is what we basically understand as 10k gold and is worth $21.68 per gram or $33.60 per pennyweight. The numbers 416 and 417 refer to your item's purity: 41.6% pure gold or 41.7% pure gold.
Common Gold Markings
US jewelry makers do not display this number, but it is on European-made jewelry. 375: This means 9 karat gold. Often, the marking only appears on British jewelry. 416/417: These numbers are interchangeable and indicate 10 karat gold.
9 karat gold – 375. Likewise, you won't find any US jewelry marked with 375, but you'll see it on British items. 10 karat gold – 417 (sometimes marked as 416). All jewelry sold in the US must be at least 10 karats in order to be marketed as gold.
So, what is 999 Gold? In the simplest of terms, 999 Gold refers to the purest form of gold (24K), with a gold content of 99.9%.
Here's the quick answer: 750 means 18-karat gold. 585 means 14-karat gold. 417 means 10-karat gold.
If you have a loose diamond to test, fill a regular glass about ¾ of the way full with water. Gently drop the diamond into the glass. If the diamond sinks to the bottom, it's real. If it floats at the surface or just underneath, it's likely a fake.
The Best: 24K Gold
24 Parts Gold — 100% Gold This is the highest karat, and most pure form of gold jewelry. 24k gold is all parts gold without traces of other metals.
Pure gold is notated as 24K – this is the highest karat level for gold meaning it is 100% pure gold. 18K gold is 75% purity level, 14K is 58.3% purity level, and 10K is 41.7% purity level. As you can see, the higher the karat number, the more pure gold comprises the metal.
24k marking:
This means that 24 of the 24 parts is gold and this is the purest form of gold that is available.
Look for Letter Markings
Any gold that is marked less than 10k (41.7% purity) is considered fake. Anyone who is familiar with the different levels of quality will quickly recognize the following markings: GP.
Place your jewelry on a table or hold it in your hand, pour some white vinegar on the metal directly (a dropper can also be used) if the metal of the jewelry changes its color, it is not pure gold and if it keeps shining then you have real gold in your hand.
Budget: 10k gold is your least expensive option, while 18k gold is the most expensive. Type of jewelry: Earrings, necklaces, or special occasion jewelry often receive less wear and tear than items like rings, watches, and bracelets, and thus are more suitable for the higher karat contents.
Because of its lower percentage of pure gold, 10k gold jewelry is very affordable and easily accessible regardless of what kind of jewelry you're looking for. The other major benefit of 10k gold is its durability. This makes it a great choice for rings, and it has even become a popular choice for wedding bands.
If your jewelry or gold is 10k, while the purity is just over 40%, its value can still add up fast.
For the average person in the U.S., any diamond at least between 2 and 2.4 carats is considered “big,” i.e., way more than enough.
In 18ct. white gold, the mix is three parts gold to one part palladium, hence the stamp “750” in 18ct. gold jewellery.
Is 14K Gold Pawnable? 14K gold is definitely pawnable, but make sure you're selling it to a respected and well-known dealer. “Cash for Gold” stores are notoriously unscrupulous, so keep your wits about you and make sure to get more than one opinion before you get pennies for your grandma's precious gold.
Yellow gold is described as such because of its yellow colour which is a result of it being alloyed with silver and copper.
Since 1942, Kalevala jewelry has been punched with the company's stamp, the letters KK inside a circle. This mark is still used. Old Kalevala jewelry often features not only the maker's mark of the company, but also the mark of the supplier who made the piece, such as HGL (Holger Lindström) or HK (Heikki Kaksonen).
If you have a gold piece with a 925 mark, it's most likely sterling silver underneath gold plating. You'll normally see this kind of stamp on a gold vermeil (pronounced as "ver-may"), meaning that it's sterling silver that has gold plating.