What Does “585” Mean on Gold?
- Arthur Estill
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
What Does “585” Mean on Gold? (And Is It Real Gold?)
If you’ve ever looked closely at a ring, necklace, or bracelet and seen the number “585” stamped inside, you’re not alone in wondering what it means.
This is a very common marking, and it shows up frequently in estates — especially on older or imported jewelry. The short answer is:
“585” means the item is 14-karat gold.
But there’s more to it than that and understanding what this mark means can help you avoid mistaking real gold for costume jewelry.
What “585” Actually Means
Gold purity is often measured in parts per thousand in many countries, instead of using karats like we typically do in the United States.
585 = 585 parts pure gold out of 1,000
That equals 58.5% pure gold
Which is exactly the same as 14K gold
So:
585 = 14K gold
It is real gold, not plated, not filled, and not costume.
Why Some Jewelry Says “585” Instead of “14K”
In the U.S., most people are used to seeing:
10K
14K
18K
But many countries — especially in Europe and parts of Asia — use numeric purity marks instead of karat marks.
That’s why you might also see:
So if a piece is marked 585, it usually means:
It was made or stamped outside the U.S., or
It was made by a manufacturer that uses international standards
Is Jewelry Marked “585” Always Real?
Not automatically.
Just like “14K,” the 585 stamp can be faked or misleading. That’s why professional evaluation never relies on markings alone.
Marks can be:
Worn down
Poorly stamped
Or, in rare cases, completely fake
That’s why proper testing is always recommended before making decisions about value.
How We Confirm Gold Beyond the Mark
When evaluating jewelry, professionals don’t rely on the stamp alone. We look at:
Weight and feel
Construction quality
Wear patterns
And we use testing methods such as:
Acid testing
Electronic gold testers
Magnification with a jeweler’s loupe
The mark is a clue, not a guarantee.
How Much Is 585 Gold Worth?
Because 585 gold is 14K gold, its value is based mostly on:
The weight of the piece
The current gold market price
In most cases:
Jewelry marked 585 is valued the same way as any other 14K gold jewelry.
However, some pieces can be worth more than melt value if they are:
Designer pieces
Antique or vintage
Artist-made
Or collectible for other reasons
A Common Estate Sale Scenario
We often hear families say:
Then we start finding pieces marked 585, 750, or other international marks that were simply not recognized as real gold.
This is one of the most common ways real gold gets overlooked.
Important: 585 vs Gold-Plated or Gold-Filled
Do not confuse 585 with markings like:
Those are not solid gold.
585 means solid 14K gold.
The Bigger Picture
Understanding markings like 585 is one small part of properly evaluating jewelry. Many valuable pieces are:
Imported
Poorly marked
Or not marked at all
Which is why experience and proper testing matter.
If you want a deeper guide on this topic, see our full article:
Final Thought
If you see “585” stamped inside a piece of jewelry, you are very likely holding real 14K gold — not costume jewelry.
But like all jewelry, it should still be properly evaluated before any decisions are made.
At Afternoon Estate Sales, we see the “585” mark regularly when evaluating estates. It is one of the most common international gold stamps that families do not recognize, and one of the main reasons real gold is often mistaken for costume jewelry.
