Gold Hallmarks Guide — What Does 585, 417, 750 Mean on Gold?
Gold hallmarks are small stamps on jewelry that show purity and sometimes origin. Numbers like 375, 585, 750, 916, and 999 tell you how much of the piece is pure gold. This guide explains those fineness marks, then how hallmark rules and symbols differ by country—from UK assay offices to India's BIS system and common Gulf and Asian practices—plus how to tell solid gold from plated or gold-filled.
What Are Gold Hallmarks?
A hallmark is a mark stamped into gold (and sometimes silver or platinum) to show purity, and in some countries the maker and assay office. Pure gold is 24 parts out of 24, so purity is often shown as parts per thousand: 585 means 585 parts per thousand, or 58.5% gold — that's 14K.
Hallmarks help you know what you're buying or selling. They don't guarantee authenticity on their own (stamps can be faked), but together with weight and simple tests they give a strong indication of purity.
Common Gold Hallmarks — 375, 417, 585, 750, 916, 999
These are the numbers you'll see most often. The three-digit form is used worldwide; karat (K) is common in the US.
| Stamp | Karat | Pure gold % | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% | World |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% | Asia, Middle East |
| 750 | 18K | 75% | US, UK, Europe |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% | US, UK, Europe |
| 417 | 10K | 41.7% | US |
| 375 | 9K | 37.5% | UK, Europe |
| 333 | 8K | 33.3% | Europe |
So: 585 gold meaning = 14K (58.5% gold). 417 gold meaning = 10K (41.7% gold). 750 = 18K, 916 = 22K, 999 = 24K (nearly pure).
Each stamp above links to a short dedicated page (fineness, regions, karat map). For USD melt once you know weight and purity, use our gold melt value hub (e.g. 10g of 14K, 585 explained).
Hallmarks by country and region
The same fineness number (e.g. 750) means the same gold content everywhere. What changes is whether other marks are legally required, who applies them, and which purities are common in local fashion.
United States
There is no national assay office for jewelry. Stamping is not universally required, but when you see marks they are usually karat (10K–24K) or millesimal (417, 585, 750, 916, 999). A maker's or brand mark may sit beside the purity. Under FTC rules, items sold as "gold" in the US are typically at least 10K unless clearly labeled as gold-filled or plated.
United Kingdom
UK law requires most new precious-metal items above a weight threshold to be hallmarked by an assay office before sale. A full UK hallmark usually includes: sponsor's mark (maker or importer), standard of fineness (375, 585, 750, 916, etc.), assay office mark, and often a date letter (year of marking). Common assay symbols include the leopard's head (London), anchor (Birmingham), rose (Sheffield), and castle (Edinburgh)—the exact design can vary by era, so use assay office references if you need a precise date.
Retail jewelry in the UK is often 9K (375), 14K (585), or 18K (750); 22K (916) appears on some pieces. Imported items may carry equivalent fineness stamps without the full UK set until they are re-hallmarked for the local market.
European Union and Switzerland
EU countries use millesimal fineness (333, 375, 585, 750, 916, 999) with national or assay marks depending on the member state. Switzerland is known for 750 and 585 watch cases and jewelry; you may see Swiss maker marks alongside the number. The number itself always refers to parts per thousand of gold in the alloy.
Middle East and Gulf
Jewelry is often sold by karat, with 21K and 22K especially common for traditional designs. 21K equals 875 parts per thousand of gold (21÷24). You may see 916 for 22K, 750 for 18K, or Arabic numerals alongside Latin stamps on modern pieces. Local regulations vary by country; when in doubt, weigh the piece and match the fineness to our gold calculator.
India and South Asia
Fine jewelry is often 22K (916) or 18K (750); 14K has grown for durability. Since 2021, India has tightened rules so that most gold jewelry sold as hallmarked should carry a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) hallmark: typically the BIS logo, purity (e.g. 22K916), assay centre code, and jeweller's ID. Older pieces may only show a local stamp or karat—verify with a trusted jeweller or assay if the stake is high.
China
Modern labeling often uses Au plus fineness, e.g. Au750 for 18K, Au999 for very high purity. You may still see legacy terms like 足金 (pure gold for jewelry) in marketing; always check the numeric fineness for calculator use. Import rules and labeling standards have evolved—treat the stamped millesimal value as authoritative for weight-based value.
Japan
Imported and domestic pieces often show K18, K14, or K24, sometimes with WG for white gold. These map directly to the same karat system as North America; enter the same purity in our calculator after converting weight to grams.
Australia and New Zealand
Jewelry may show karat or millesimal marks. Imported European or UK hallmarks appear often; locally made items follow similar fineness conventions. Minimum legal standards for what counts as "gold" differ from the US—always read the stamp and confirm fineness before selling as scrap.
| Region | Typical stamps you'll see | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK / EU | 375, 585, 750 + assay symbols | 9K very common in UK; compulsory hallmarking for many items |
| US / Canada | 10K–24K, 417–999 | No single national assay mark on every piece |
| Gulf / Middle East | 21K, 22K, 875, 916, 750 | 21K = 875‰ gold; 22K often shown as 916 |
| India | BIS logo + 916, 750, 585… | Regulated BIS hallmark on new jewelry; legacy pieces vary |
| East Asia | Au750, Au999, K18 | China uses Au prefix; Japan uses K14/K18 |
Solid Gold vs Gold-Filled vs Gold-Plated — What the Marks Tell You
Only solid gold (or alloy that is mostly gold) will have a purity hallmark like 585 or 14K. Other types have different markings.
- Solid gold: 8K–24K or 333, 375, 417, 585, 750, 916, 999. The whole piece is that purity (aside from solder in some joints).
- Gold-filled (GF): A layer of gold bonded to a base metal. May be marked "GF", "1/20 14K GF", or similar. Not the same as solid 14K; scrap value is much lower.
- Gold-plated (GP) or vermeil: A thin gold layer over base metal. Often marked "GP", "GEP", or "HGE". Scrap value is usually negligible.
If you see no stamp or only "GP"/"GF", don't assume it's solid gold. For more on the difference, see our gold filled vs solid gold guide.
Where to Find Hallmarks on Your Jewelry
Stamps are usually in a discreet spot. Check: inside of rings; near the clasp on necklaces and bracelets; back of pendants and earrings; and on the inside or edge of chains. Use good light and a magnifier if the stamp is tiny or worn. If you still can't find one, consider having the piece tested — see our how to test gold at home guide.