Not all gold jewelry is the same — and we’re not just talking about gold alloy and alloy metals that combine gold and other metals, like white gold or rose gold. You can look at two wedding bands made from yellow gold that look identical, and they could be completely different in terms of actual gold content.
Luckily, determining the gold purity of a gold product is relatively easy, thanks to the gold stamp. Gold stamps are a series of numbers on a piece of gold — usually in an inconspicuous spot, like on an earring post or the inside of a ring — and they tell you whether or not the gold is considered pure gold or if the gold contains other metal.
So, what does the stamp 750 mean on jewelry, and what can other stamps tell you about your favorite pieces?
What You Will Learn
What Does 750 Mean on Gold Jewelry?
First, let’s review gold 750 meaning on jewelry.
If you see a 750 gold stamp on a piece of gold jewelry, it signifies that the piece consists of 75% pure gold. The remainder of the other 25% of the alloy is some other metal. Because the gold jewelry contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metal, the piece is 18 karat gold (24 karat gold is pure gold, and 75% of 24 is 18). As for the remaining 25% of the piece, other popular metals include silver, copper, zinc, nickel, and palladium, giving gold jewelry more strength.
But why wouldn’t a jewelry maker stamp the jewelry with “18 karat” versus “750.” It’s simple — saying 18 karat gold requires more space on the piece. Ideally, the jewelry stamp should be as unnoticeable as possible.
So, is this good or bad? Is 18 karat gold valuable, or should you avoid jewelry with 18 karat gold?
The short answer is, yes, 18 karat gold is valuable and desirable. Opting for 18 karat gold over pure gold for jewelry is a smart choice for jewelry designers and buyers alike. Pure gold is often considered too soft and delicate for use in jewelry, especially in intricate designs. In contrast, 18 karat gold is more durable, requires no extensive maintenance, and still offers a beautiful appearance and high value. As such, it’s not uncommon to see 18 karat gold used in fine jewelry.
How Does 18 Karat Gold Compare to Other Purities?
When shopping for gold, you have options beyond 18 and 24 karat gold.
For example, if you see 583 or 585 stamped on gold, the piece is 14 karat gold. While 14 karat gold is not as valuable as 18 karat gold due to the lesser overall gold content, 14 karat gold does come with its benefits. It’s more affordable than 18 karat gold and more durable, so it is a good choice if you’re worried about scratches or other potential damage.
If you see 416 or 417 stamped on a gold piece, that means the piece is 10 karat gold. The piece contains even less gold and is less than half pure gold by volume. Just like 14 karat gold is more durable and affordable than 18 karat gold, so is 10 karat over 14 karat gold. However, remember that the lower the karat, the lower the piece’s overall value.
A Note on Gold Leaf, Gold Plating, Gold Filled, and Gold Vermeil Jewelry
Before buying a piece of 750-stamped, 18 karat gold jewelry, verify that it contains 18 karat gold, not that it is gold plated, gold filled, or gold vermeil. Sometimes, a maker or seller may advertise a piece as 18 karat gold when the 18 karat gold is only present in the piece’s gold filling or plating instead of the entire piece.
For example, vermeil jewelry is created by applying a thin layer of gold to a lesser-quality base metal. While not made precisely the same way, gold plated jewelry similarly features gold when applied to a less expensive, lesser quality base metal. While gold filled jewelry often features more overall gold than gold vermeil or gold plated jewelry, the bulk of the piece features other lesser-quality base metals. All of these types of jewelry could use 18 karat gold for the gold portions of their manufacture; however, they’re not made entirely of 18 karat gold.
As such, these pieces will not be worth as much as a genuine 18 karat gold piece.
750 Gold Meaning FAQs
What Does 750 Marking on Jewelry Mean?
Suppose you’re wondering what does 750 gold mean. In that case, the answer is simple: Gold displaying a 750 gold stamp is roughly 75% pure gold, or 18 karat gold (as 18 karats is 75% of 24 karats, and 24 karat gold is pure gold).
What is in 750 Gold?
If 750 gold is only 75% pure gold, what else is in the mix? Typically, 750 gold is a harmonious blend of pure gold and other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, or palladium. Mixing gold with other metals helps strengthen the overall piece because gold is naturally a soft metal susceptible to damage.
Why Do We Call Them Karats?
The word “karat” descends from the Latin word “carratus,” which means “little weights.” In ancient times, precious gemstones were measured by comparing their weight to the weight of a carob seed, and over time, the phrases used to refer to these seeds became synonymous with phrases used for weighing in general (as can be seen with “carratus”). The Latin word evolved and eventually turned into the English “carat,” and even later, the American variant of “karat,” which was used specifically for gold purity, appeared.
How Much Does 750 Gold Weigh?
You cannot determine how much 750 gold weighs based on its purity percentage. This karat measurement only refers to how much pure gold is in the piece, not the physical weight of gold. Gold weight is measured using the troy ounce, and one troy ounce is equivalent to about 1.097 standard ounces. So, one ounce of gold is slightly less than one troy ounce.
Protect Your Gold Jewelry
Whether you’ve invested in 18 karat gold jewelry, 24 karat gold, 10 karat gold, or anything in between, if you want to keep it safe, you’ll need to do more than just invest in a jewelry safe and practice proper jewelry cleaning and maintenance. You’ll also need to invest in jewelry insurance to repair or replace your favorite pieces in the event of damage, loss, theft, and more.
BriteCo makes it easy with comprehensive jewelry insurance policies that fill in all the gaps left by homeowners’ or renters’ policy. Getting a quote is fast and easy, and prices are surprisingly affordable.
Learn more and get your quote today.
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