Updated
14K means 14 karat gold: 14 parts gold in 24, made to 58.5% pure. On its own, the stamp marks solid gold.
14K, 14KT, 14 KARAT, and 585, the European way of writing it.
The most common karat in the US for engagement rings, wedding bands and gold chains. It wears better than 18K and holds more gold than 10K.
14K on its own means solid gold. The same number followed by letters means a layer of 14K gold over another metal, which holds far less gold:
| Stamp | What it means | Gold, 5 g ring |
|---|---|---|
14K | Solid 14K gold all the way through | 2.92 g $381.39 |
1/20 14K GF | Gold filled: a bonded layer of at least 10K gold, at least 1/20 of the total weight | 0.15 g $19.07 |
1/40 14K RGP | Rolled gold plate: a bonded layer, at least 1/40 of the total weight | 0.07 g $9.53 |
14K HGE | Heavy gold electroplate: at least 2.5 microns of gold | about $2.52 |
14K GEP14K GP | Gold electroplate or gold plate: at least 0.175 microns of gold | about $0.18 |
Pure gold content at today's $130.39 a gram. Plated rows assume a plain ring with about 4 square centimeters of surface at the FTC minimum thickness (16 CFR 23.3).
Melt value = weight in grams × purity × spot price per gram
Spot prices are quoted per troy ounce, and a troy ounce is 31.1035 grams. Gold spot is $4,055.57, so pure gold is $130.39 a gram.
5 grams of 14K gold: 5 × 0.585 × $130.39 = $381.39
Weigh it in grams on a kitchen or jewelry scale. Set stones add weight, so the true figure is a little lower. A buyer pays less than melt to cover refining and profit. Melt value calculator
Photograph it, then take a close-up of the stamp. GemstoneAI uses a legible stamp for the metal and gives a first read on what you have and what it may be worth. Your first scan is free.
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A stamp is a claim, not proof. Fake jewelry is sometimes stamped with real-looking marks. In the US, a purity mark is supposed to sit next to a maker's trademark, so a purity stamp on its own deserves a closer look.
More checks: how to tell if gold is real and the 5-question ring checker.
Yes, when 14K stands alone or beside a maker's mark. 14K followed by GP, GEP, HGE, RGP or GF means a layer of 14K gold over another metal.
Yes. 14K is the karat and 585 the parts per thousand. Both mean 58.5% gold.
About $76.28 per gram at melt today.