What Does 585 Mean on Jewelry?

You're holding a necklace, a ring, maybe a bracelet you picked up at an estate sale — and stamped somewhere on the metal, almost too small to read, are the numbers 585. What does that mean? Is it real gold? Is it worth anything?

The short answer: yes. 585 means real gold, and it's one of the most common hallmarks you'll find on fine jewelry sold across the US and Europe.

Here's what you need to know.

What Is 585 Gold?

585 gold is 14-karat (14K) gold. The number refers to purity: 58.5% pure gold by weight, with the remaining 41.5% made up of other metals like silver, copper, zinc, or palladium.

The 585 stamp is the European and international way of expressing gold purity using the "millesimal fineness" system, which measures purity out of 1,000. In the US, the same alloy is typically labeled 14K or 14KT. They mean exactly the same thing. 585 and 14K are just two different ways of describing the same gold.

If you come across a stamp you don't recognize, the millesimal fineness number divided by 10 gives you the gold percentage. 750 means 75% gold. 585 means 58.5%. 375 means 37.5%. It's a consistent system once you see the pattern.

Is 585 Real Gold?

Yes, absolutely. A piece stamped 585 contains 58.5% pure gold, which is well above the legal minimum threshold for gold jewelry in the US (10K, which is 41.7% purity). It's genuine, regulated, and legally required to meet that purity standard in most countries.

The fact that it contains other metals doesn't make it less authentic. Pure 24K gold is actually too soft for most jewelry. The added metals in a 14K alloy are what make it durable enough for everyday wear, which is a big part of why it's the most popular gold purity for engagement rings, wedding bands, and chains in the US.

Why Does My Jewelry Say 585 Instead of 14K?

It mostly comes down to where the piece was made. Jewelers in Europe, Asia, and most international markets use the millesimal fineness system and stamp 585. American jewelers traditionally stamp 14K. If you bought the piece overseas, inherited it from someone who did, or it came from an international brand, 585 is just how those markets write 14-karat gold.

Both marks are equally valid.

What Other Stamps Appear Alongside 585?

When you're looking closely at a 585-stamped piece, you might spot a few other marks nearby:

• A maker's mark, which is the manufacturer's identifier, often initials or a small logo
• An assay office mark, a symbol from a third-party body that verified the purity (common in the UK and Europe)
• A date letter, used primarily on British and some Continental European pieces to indicate the year it was tested
• A metal color indicator like "585 WG" for white gold, "585 YG" for yellow gold, or "585 RG" for rose gold

All three color variants share the same 58.5% gold content. Only the alloy metals differ to produce different colors — copper for rose, white metals like palladium or nickel for white.

How Much Is 585 Gold Worth?

A few things go into it:

1. Weight. Heavier pieces contain more gold.
2. Current spot price of gold, which changes daily.
3. Craftsmanship and brand. Designer or vintage pieces often carry a premium above melt value.
4. Gemstones. Diamonds or other stones add independent value.
5. Condition. Damage or missing components affect worth.

The starting point for any valuation is the melt value: your piece's weight multiplied by 0.585, then multiplied by the current gold price per gram. Use Unvault's Gold Calculator to get a live estimate based on real spot prices.

For a more complete picture that accounts for craftsmanship and stones, get an instant jewelry valuation from Unvault's certified gemologists.

Where Can You Sell 585 Gold?

If you're looking to sell, you have a few options worth knowing about:

• Online gold buyers like Unvault offer the convenience of shipping your piece in for evaluation and tend to pay more than local alternatives because their overhead is lower. Unvault specifically provides an itemized offer so you know exactly what you're getting paid for.
• Local jewelers and coin shops will buy 585 gold, though offers vary widely. It's worth getting two or three quotes before committing.

Whichever route you go, knowing your piece is stamped 585 (14K) means you can verify any offer against the current spot price. Start with the Gold Calculator to understand the baseline before anyone makes you an offer.

How to Check If the 585 Hallmark Is Genuine

Reputable jewelry will have a clean, machine-struck hallmark in a consistent spot: inside the band for rings, near the clasp for necklaces and bracelets, on the post or back for earrings. If the stamp looks hand-scratched or uneven, that's worth a second look. Use a jeweler's loupe (10x magnification) to get a proper look at small stamps.

You can also verify purity through acid testing or XRF (X-ray fluorescence) testing, both of which professional appraisers use to confirm karat accurately.

585 Gold vs Other Purities

There's no single best choice — it depends on what matters to you:

• 24K (999) is the purest gold but very soft. Rarely used for wearable jewelry.
• 18K (750) is a popular luxury choice with a richer color, though slightly softer than 14K.
• 14K (585) is the sweet spot for most buyers: solid durability, good color, real gold value.
• 10K (417) is the most affordable but has lower gold content and is often less lustrous.
• 9K (375) is common in the UK and Australia but not legally sold as gold in the US.

For most people wearing jewelry daily, 14K/585 is the practical gold standard.

The Bottom Line

If your jewelry is stamped 585, you're holding a genuine piece of 14-karat gold. It's real, valuable, and one of the most widely made gold purities in the world. Whether you want to keep it, sell it, or just understand what you own, knowing your hallmarks puts you in a much stronger position. Try Unvault's Gold Calculator for a quick live estimate, or submit your piece for a full instant jewelry valuation from certified experts. You can also learn more about selling 14k gold on our website! 

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