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 585, 417, and 750 tell you how much of the piece is pure gold. This guide explains how to read them in the US, UK, and Europe, and 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 — 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).
US vs UK vs European Hallmark Systems
United States
In the US there is no legal requirement to hallmark jewelry. When marks are used, you typically see karat (10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K) or the numeric equivalent (417, 585, 750, 916, 999). A maker's mark or brand may appear next to the purity. 10K is the minimum purity that can be sold as "gold" in the US.
United Kingdom
UK law requires certain precious metal articles to be hallmarked by an assay office. You'll see a purity mark (e.g. 375, 585, 750), a maker's mark, and an assay office mark (e.g. anchor for Birmingham, leopard for London). Common purities are 9K (375), 14K (585), 18K (750), and 22K (916).
Europe
Many European countries have compulsory hallmarking with assay offices. Purity is often shown in parts per thousand (333, 375, 585, 750, 916). You may also see country or maker symbols. 9K (375) and 18K (750) are very common in European jewelry.
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.