Knowledge
585 gold: meaning, value and price per gram
585 gold (14 carat) is the most common fineness for jewellery in Germany. What the number means and how to calculate what your jewellery is worth.
If you own a gold ring, chain or earrings bought in Germany, you will very likely find the number 585 on it. It has been the standard for everyday jewellery here for decades – durable, affordable and still high quality. Jewellery from elsewhere often follows other standards: 22 carat (916) is common in India and the Gulf states, 18 carat (750) in Italy and much of southern Europe.
What does 585 mean?
The number stands for the share of pure gold in thousandths: 585 out of 1,000 parts are fine gold, i.e. 58.5 per cent. The rest consists of other metals such as silver, copper, zinc or palladium. They make the material harder and determine the colour – from yellow gold to rose gold and white gold.
Expressed in carats, 585 gold equals 14 carat. Pure gold is 24 carat; 14/24 equals 0.583 – the 585 hallmark is deliberately set slightly higher so that the minimum content is reliably met.
How much is 585 gold worth?
The melt value per gram is the current fine gold price per gram multiplied by 0.585. You can find today's value on our page 585 gold – price per gram. An example: a chain weighing 10 grams in 585 gold contains 5.85 grams of pure gold.
What do dealers pay?
When buying, dealers pay less than the pure melt value because the gold has to be melted down and refined. Around 90 to 97 per cent is usual. For small quantities and over the shop counter, the price tends to be at the lower end – so it pays to compare.
585 gold compared
| Hallmark | Carat | Gold content | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333 | 8 K | 33.3% | inexpensive jewellery |
| 585 | 14 K | 58.5% | everyday jewellery, wedding rings |
| 750 | 18 K | 75.0% | high-end jewellery |
| 916 | 22 K | 91.6% | Krügerrand, Indian and Middle Eastern jewellery |
| 999 | 24 K | 99.9% | bars, bullion coins |
How can I tell if 585 gold is genuine?
A hallmark alone is no proof – fake hallmarks do exist. Signs of real gold are an even shine with no wear revealing a different metal at the edges, and no magnetism. Only a test by a specialist dealer or jeweller gives certainty.
You can calculate the value of your jewellery with the gold calculator – even for several items of different fineness.