If you found 585 stamped on a ring, necklace, bracelet, or other piece of jewelry, you may be wondering what it means.
The quick answer:
585 means the jewelry is 58.5% pure gold. It is the international fineness mark commonly used for 14K gold.
So, in most cases:
585 gold = 14K gold = real gold.
But a 585 stamp by itself does not guarantee that a piece is genuine. Here’s what you should know.
What Does 585 Mean on Gold?
The number 585 describes how much pure gold is in the jewelry.
Gold purity can be expressed in two common ways:
| Mark | Gold Purity |
|---|---|
| 24K / 999 | 99.9% pure gold |
| 22K / 916 | 91.6% pure gold |
| 18K / 750 | 75.0% pure gold |
| 14K / 585 | 58.5% pure gold |
| 10K / 417 | 41.7% pure gold |
| 9K / 375 | 37.5% pure gold |
A piece stamped 585 should contain approximately 585 parts gold out of every 1,000 parts of metal.
The remaining 41.5% is normally made from other metals such as:
- Silver
- Copper
- Zinc
- Nickel
- Palladium
These metals make the jewelry harder and more durable than pure 24K gold.
Is 585 Gold Real Gold?
Yes. 585 gold is real gold.
It isn’t pure gold, but very little everyday gold jewelry is made from pure 24K gold.
Pure gold is extremely soft. Mixing gold with stronger metals makes jewelry more resistant to bending, scratching, and everyday wear.
That is one reason 14K gold is extremely popular for rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry.
Is 585 the Same as 14K Gold?
Essentially, yes.
Fourteen-karat gold means that approximately 14 out of 24 parts of the metal are gold.
14 ÷ 24 = 58.33%
The international fineness standard commonly used for 14K jewelry is 585, or 58.5%.
That is why you may see one piece marked 14K and another marked 585 even though both are considered 14K gold.
Why Does My Jewelry Say 585 Instead of 14K?
It often depends on where the jewelry was manufactured.
The United States commonly uses the karat system, with markings such as:
- 10K
- 14K
- 18K
- 22K
Many European and international manufacturers use the fineness system, which uses numbers such as:
- 375
- 417
- 585
- 750
- 916
- 999
So a 585 stamp is especially common on jewelry made outside the United States.
What Does a 585 Stamp Look Like?
Look carefully around areas such as:
- Inside a ring
- Near the clasp of a necklace
- On the back of a pendant
- Inside a bracelet
- On an earring post
- Near the end links of a chain
You might see markings such as:
585
14K
14KT
14K 585
You may also see a manufacturer’s mark next to the gold purity stamp.
Does a 585 Stamp Guarantee That the Gold Is Real?
No.
A hallmark is a useful clue, but it isn’t proof.
Fake jewelry can be stamped 585 or 14K.
Jewelry can also contain different metals in different areas. Clasps, solder joints, repairs, replacement parts, and other components may test differently from the main piece.
That is why professional testing is important when determining the actual gold content.
Can Fake Gold Be Stamped 585 or 14K?
Yes.
A counterfeit piece can have almost any stamp placed on it.
You should be especially cautious when a piece has a gold stamp but:
- The color looks unusual
- Gold plating appears to be wearing away
- Different areas have different colors
- A magnet strongly attracts the jewelry
- The piece feels unusually light
- The seller cannot explain where it came from
None of these signs alone proves that something is fake.
Testing the metal is much more reliable than simply reading the stamp.
How Can You Tell If 585 Gold Is Real?
There are several ways gold can be checked.
1. Check the Hallmark
Finding 585 or 14K is a good starting point.
But remember: stamps can be fake.
2. Look for Additional Letters
Letters after the karat mark can completely change what the marking means.
For example:
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 14K / 585 | 14K solid gold |
| 14KP | 14 karat plumb gold |
| 14K GP | 14K gold plated |
| 14K GEP | 14K gold electroplated |
| 14K HGE | Heavy gold electroplate |
| 14K GF | Gold filled |
A piece marked 14K GP is very different from a piece simply marked 14K.
3. Have the Jewelry Professionally Tested
Professional gold buyers and jewelers can test jewelry instead of relying entirely on its stamp.
Modern testing equipment such as an XRF precious-metal analyzer can measure the metals present and estimate the actual gold purity without relying on the hallmark.
This is especially useful when jewelry is:
- Unmarked
- Heavily worn
- Antique
- Imported
- Repaired
- Plated
- Suspected of being counterfeit
Is 585 Gold Yellow, White, or Rose Gold?
It can be any of them.
The 585 number tells you the gold purity—not the color.
585 Yellow Gold
Usually combines gold with metals such as silver, copper, and zinc.
585 White Gold
The gold is mixed with white-colored metals. White gold jewelry may also have a rhodium finish.
585 Rose Gold
Contains a larger amount of copper, which gives the jewelry its pink or reddish color.
All three can still contain approximately 58.5% gold.
How Much Is 585 Gold Worth?
The value of 585 gold depends heavily on the current gold price and the weight of the item.
A simple melt-value calculation is:
Weight in grams × 58.5% × current pure-gold value per gram
For example, if you have a 20-gram 585 gold chain:
20 × .585 = 11.7 grams of pure gold
The piece contains approximately the equivalent of 11.7 grams of pure gold before considering refining costs, dealer margins, stones, or other factors.
Gold prices move constantly, so the dollar value changes with the market.
Do Stones Count Toward the Gold Weight?
Not usually.
Diamonds, gemstones, springs, watch parts, and other non-gold materials do not have the same melt value as gold.
A professional buyer may need to estimate or deduct their weight when calculating the actual gold content of a piece.
Can You Sell 585 Gold?
Absolutely.
Because 585 is real 14K gold, it generally has meaningful precious-metal value.
You can sell items such as:
- Broken gold chains
- Rings
- Bracelets
- Earrings
- Pendants
- Class rings
- Old jewelry
- Damaged jewelry
- Mismatched earrings
- Unwanted wedding jewelry
- Scrap gold
Your jewelry does not have to be wearable to have gold value.
A broken 585 chain still contains gold.
What If My Jewelry Says 585 but Tests Lower?
This can happen.
A stamp tells you what the piece was represented to be when it was manufactured. The actual test result may sometimes differ.
Possible reasons include:
- Gold plating
- Counterfeit jewelry
- Repairs
- Lower-purity solder
- Mixed-metal components
- Manufacturing differences
- Testing a clasp instead of the main jewelry
- A misleading or fake hallmark
For this reason, the actual metal test is more important than the number stamped on the jewelry.
Does All 14K Gold Have a Stamp?
No.
Real gold jewelry can be unmarked.
Stamps can disappear because of:
- Wear
- Resizing
- Repair work
- Polishing
- Age
- Manufacturing differences
An item without a 585 or 14K stamp should not automatically be considered fake.
It simply needs to be tested.
Frequently Asked Questions About 585 Gold
Is 585 gold real?
Yes. Genuine 585 gold contains approximately 58.5% pure gold and is considered 14K gold.
Is 585 better than 14K?
They normally refer to the same general gold purity. 585 is the fineness measurement commonly associated with 14K gold.
Is 585 gold plated?
Not necessarily.
A simple 585 stamp normally indicates solid 14K gold, but additional marks such as GP, GEP, or HGE can indicate plating.
Is 585 gold worth money?
Yes.
Because more than half of its metal content is gold, 585 jewelry can have significant melt value depending on its weight and the current price of gold.
Can a fake chain say 585?
Yes.
A stamp can be counterfeited, which is why professional testing is more reliable than the hallmark alone.
Is 585 gold magnetic?
Gold itself is not magnetic, but 585 jewelry contains other metals and may contain clasps, springs, or other components that react slightly to a magnet.
A magnet test alone cannot prove whether jewelry is real or fake.
What is the difference between 585 and 750 gold?
585 is approximately 58.5% gold, or 14K.
750 is 75% gold, or 18K.
Therefore, gram for gram, 750 gold contains more pure gold and normally has a higher melt value.
Have 585 Gold You Want Tested or Sold?
If you have jewelry stamped 585, 14K, or another gold marking, don’t rely on the stamp alone.
At Gold Kings, we can examine the jewelry, test the metal, weigh it, and determine its gold content before making an offer.
Broken, old, damaged, or unwanted 14K jewelry can still be valuable.
We test it. We weigh it. We pay you.
