Gold Number Code Chart: What 24 Karat, 999 and 585 Mean
Vazgen Martirosov
Two pieces of gold are sitting on your table: a wedding ring stamped 750 and a tiny bar with a certificate that says 999.9. Both are gold, both came with a number, and neither came with a translation. It feels a bit like a math test nobody warned you about.
Quick answer: a gold number code shows how much pure gold is in a piece, in parts per thousand. So 999 is 24 karat gold at 99.9% pure, 750 is 18K at 75%, and 585 is 14K at 58.5%. The higher the number, the purer and softer the gold, which is why jewelry like our gold rings and necklaces is made in 14K and 18K rather than 24K. Below: the full chart, how pure 24 karat really is, and how to work out what it is worth.
Gold number code chart
Here is every common gold number code, from the lowest to the highest. Find the number on your piece and read across.
| Code | Karat | Pure gold | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333 | 8K | 33.3% | Sold as gold in a few countries |
| 375 | 9K | 37.5% | UK, France, Ireland |
| 417 | 10K | 41.7% | United States |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% | Jewelry worldwide |
| 750 | 18K | 75% | Fine jewelry worldwide |
| 833 | 20K | 83.3% | Parts of Asia |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% | India, some gold coins |
| 990 | About 24K | 99% | Chinese high-purity gold |
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% | Bars, coins |
| 999.9 | 24K | 99.99% | Bars, coins |
Those figures follow the fineness list published by the World Gold Council. The lowest karat that can be sold as gold changes by country, which is why the first rows differ from place to place. For the most common stamp, see our guide to 585 gold.
How to read any gold number code
You do not need to memorize the chart. Two small sums cover everything:
- Number to percentage: divide by 10. So 750 becomes 75%.
- Karat to number: divide the karat by 24, then multiply by 1,000. So 18K gives you 750.
Each karat is one part in 24, or about 4.17% gold. The sums are not perfectly neat at every step. 14 divided by 24 is 58.3%, yet the stamp says 585, because most makers work slightly above the exact figure.
Is 24 karat gold pure gold?
Is 24 karat gold pure gold? Yes, as close as real-world refining allows. 24 karat means 24 parts out of 24 are gold, and the FTC simply calls it pure gold. There is no 25 karat waiting at the top.
In practice, though, nothing reaches a perfect 100%. The World Gold Council notes that gold is refined only as far as 999.9 parts per thousand, because tiny traces of other elements remain. So when someone says 'pure gold', they mean gold so close to pure that the leftover is too small to matter to you.
That is also why you will not find a real 1000 stamp. If you ever see a code above 999.9, or a '25K' ring, it is time to ask some polite questions.
How pure is 24 karat gold?
How pure is 24 karat gold? It depends on the number on it. Two codes get called 24K, and the gap is small but real.
| Code | Also called | Gold in 1 kg | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | Three nines | 999 g | Bars, coins, some jewelry |
| 999.9 | Four nines | 999.9 g | Bars and bullion coins |
Large bars used on the international market can be a little lower: 995 is the minimum for London Good Delivery bars. So a bar can be trusted as investment gold without quite reaching 999.
Why jewelry is rarely made in 24 karat
If 24 karat is the purest, why isn't your ring made of it? Because pure gold is soft. Daily life marks it fast: door handles, keys, the gym, the kitchen sink. GIA explains that it is too soft for engagement rings, so it is mixed with metals such as copper, silver and zinc. A prong made of pure gold is a prong you will soon be looking for under the sofa.
| Feature | 14K (585) | 18K (750) | 24K (999) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure gold | 58.5% | 75% | 99.9% |
| Colour | Soft yellow | Rich yellow | Deep yellow |
| Strength | High | Good | Low |
| Daily wear | Best choice | Good choice | Scratches and bends |
| Holds stones | Very well | Well | Not suitable |
That is why our diamond pieces, such as the diamond tennis bracelet, are made in 14K. If you are torn between the two practical options, read 14K vs 18K gold.
How much is 24 karat gold worth?
How much is 24 karat gold worth? It is worth the day's gold price, because nearly all of it is gold. The price moves every trading day, so any figure printed here would be out of date by tomorrow. What stays the same is the sum.
What is 1 oz of gold worth today?
Gold is priced by the troy ounce, not the ordinary kitchen ounce. One troy ounce is 31.1 grams. For the current figure, see the World Gold Council gold prices page, which quotes the price per troy ounce.
How much is 1 g of 24 karat gold worth?
Divide the ounce price by 31.1 and you have the price of 1 gram of pure gold. For any other gold, multiply by the code:
weight in grams × (code ÷ 1,000) × price per gram
Here is how much pure gold sits in a 10 gram piece at each level:
| Code | Weight | Pure gold inside |
|---|---|---|
| 585 | 10 g | 5.85 g |
| 750 | 10 g | 7.5 g |
| 916 | 10 g | 9.16 g |
| 999 | 10 g | 9.99 g |
That sum gives the value of the metal only. A finished piece also carries the cost of its design, the stones and the hours at the bench, so it will sell for more than its melt value. Buyers, on the other hand, usually pay somewhat less than the full gold price.
Karat vs carat: not the same thing
This one catches almost everyone. Karat with a K measures gold purity. Carat with a C measures the weight of a gemstone, and 1 carat is 0.2 grams. Outside the US, you will also see carat used for gold, so read the context. A '14K, 0.5 ct ring' is 14 karat gold set with half a carat of diamonds.
Where to find the number on your gold
The code is small, so use good light and your phone's zoom. On a ring, look inside the band. On a chain or bracelet, check the clasp or the small tag beside it. On a pendant, look at the back or the small loop the chain runs through.
On bars and coins it is much easier, because the fineness is printed on the metal or on the sealed card. If you are looking at an old piece with no code at all, it may have been worn away by polishing or resizing. A missing number is not bad news. It is simply a reason to ask a jeweller to test the piece.
What a gold number code does not tell you
A gold number code answers one question: how much pure gold is here? It leaves the rest for you to find out.
- It is not proof. Anyone can buy a stamp, so a number on its own is a claim, not a test result.
- It may not be about the whole piece. A stamp like 14K GP means gold plating over another metal, so only the thin surface is gold.
- It does not give the colour. Yellow, white and rose gold can all be 585 or 750. The mix of other metals sets the colour, not the code.
- It says nothing about the stones. Diamond weight and quality are a separate story, written in carats.
Wondering whether a number can be trusted? We show you how to check in how to tell if gold is real, including the home tests worth doing and the ones that are a waste of toothpaste.
The numbers we work with at GH Jewells
In our Yerevan workshop, we have been working in gold since 2010, mainly with 14K (585) and 18K (750). Our Tree of Life pendant is 14K, and our white gold chain is 18K. Want something made to your own idea? Send us a picture and we can quote a custom piece in either one.
You are welcome to have any of our pieces tested at an assay office, so the number is never just our word. Read more in our story.
Frequently asked questions
What is the gold number code?
It is a three or four digit stamp showing how much pure gold is in a piece, in parts per thousand. For example, 585 means 58.5% gold, which is 14K.
What is the highest gold number?
For gold you can actually buy, the top codes are 999 and 999.9, both known as 24 karat. A true 1000 does not exist in practice, since refining always leaves tiny traces of other elements.
Is 999 gold better than 585 gold?
It is purer, but not better for every job. 999 gold suits bars and coins. 585 gold is far stronger, so it is the better choice for rings and other jewelry you wear daily.
Can you wear 24 karat gold every day?
You can, but it will scratch and bend easily. That is why daily jewelry, especially anything with stones, is normally made in 14K or 18K.
How do I work out what my gold is worth?
Multiply the weight in grams by the code divided by 1,000, then by the day's price per gram. That gives you the metal value only, not the value of stones or workmanship.
Why do some gold stamps have a K and others a number?
They are two systems for the same thing. The K counts parts out of 24, while the number counts parts out of 1,000. 14K and 585 mean the same gold.
Back to the table
So the ring and the little bar can finally be introduced. The 750 ring is 18K, made to be worn. The 999.9 bar is 24 karat, made to be kept. A gold number code is just a short way of telling you which is which, and now you can read every one of them.
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