10K, 14K or 18K?
Karat is parts of 24. 24K is fine gold. 18K is 18 parts gold in 24, which is 75% and stamped 750. 14K is 58.5% (585), and 10K is 41.7% (417), the least gold sold as karat gold in the US. More karats means more gold, a richer yellow, and a softer metal.
Want the value of a piece? Try the scrap gold calculator or the silver calculator.
Gold
Karat is parts of 24. The number stamp is the gold per thousand.
10 karat, 41.7% gold
14 karat, 58.5% gold
18 karat, 75% gold
22 karat, 91.6% gold
24 karat, fine gold
9 karat, 37.5% gold (UK, Europe)
12 karat, 50% gold
16 karat, 66.7% gold
21 karat, 87.5% gold (Middle East)
P is plumb: solid gold, at least the karat stamped
Not solid gold
Gold over another metal. No gold price.
Gold filled: a karat gold layer, 1/20 of the weight, over base metal
Rolled gold plate: a thinner layer than gold filled
Gold plated or electroplated: a thin coat
Heavy gold electroplate: a thicker coat, still plated
Gold over sterling silver: price as .925 silver
Silver
Sterling silver, 92.5%
Coin silver, 90%
80% silver (European silverware)
95% silver (fine jewelry, Mexico). A 950 with PT or PD is platinum or palladium.
Fine silver, 99.9%
Not silver
No silver price.
No silver at all: copper, nickel and zinc
Silver plated over base metal: at most a thin coat
Platinum and palladium
Platinum, 95%
Platinum, 90% (IRIDPLAT: 90% platinum, 10% iridium)
Platinum, 85%
Fine platinum, 99.9%
Palladium, 95%
Palladium, 50%
Palladium, purity not stated: look for a number
Not a metal mark
Cubic zirconia: the stone, not the metal
AuIQ reads these stamps at the counter, and goes straight to your price
Then from $4.99 a month for your store. Staff never pay.
See the plans