If you own gold items or jewelry, you may have come across small numbers stamped into the gold and wondered what they might mean. Quite a few people may see the numbers 750 etched onto their gold and think it has to do with the manufacturer or perhaps the batch of the gold. However, these numbers determine far more than that, so what does it mean?

Gold marked as 750 is one of the various hallmarks available, and it pertains to the karat of the gold; in this case, it denotes that you have 18-karat gold or 75% pure gold. It is not pure gold; therefore, the remaining 25% of the item in question is composed of other metals.

We have offered you a straightforward answer; however, there is much more to be learned about the markings on gold. One of these is the value of the gold, and it also includes the other elements added as well as the durability. Some may believe their gold is pure, but this is never the case, so let us take a closer look at what the 750 on gold means.

Understanding What 750 On Gold Means

Gold stamped with 750 on it typically refers to gold with a 750 hallmark, and it informs us that the gold is 75% gold and has been combined with 25% consisting of other metals (usually just one, but sometimes there can be more than one). The 750 gold marking is an internationally accepted fineness mark and indicates the gold content of an alloy in parts per thousand.

Another form of purity measurement you may have heard used when referring to gold is karat, which displays the gold content of an alloy, but is looked at in parts of 24. If you have 24-karat gold, it possesses a fineness of 999.9 and is referred to as being virtually pure gold; unfortunately, there is no such thing as entirely pure gold.

Looking at gold with a fineness of 750, which is represented by a 750 gold stamp, indicates that you possess 18-karat gold. One thing worth noting when talking about fineness or the karat is that neither of these defines or indicates the other metal alloys, which have been infused with gold.

As we have mentioned, pure gold is impossible, yet the closest we can get to it is illustrious. However, the major downside to such gold is that it is far too soft to be handled by a jeweler to make jewelry. It is undeniably fragile and prone to breakage and damage, and any links or moving parts would wear down rapidly.

Hence, karat gold has to be mixed (or what is referred to as alloyed) with other base metals. The typical components in the gold alloy are silver, copper, nickel, and even zinc, among others. Adding these other metals to the gold article, even though they only make up 25% of the composition, adds strength and durability to the gold. 

Now, one thing of interest is that even though the gold may be categorized as 750, it does not mean that it cannot come in varying colors, so note that the color of your gold may well not dictate its fineness or value. Instead, 750 gold typically comes in three shades, yellow, white, and rose. There is an extensive range of other colors that gold could possess, including green, purple, and even blue.

There are the more popular shades of gold, and the most commonly desired one is yellow gold, an alloy of gold where typically silver or even copper and zinc are used. Apart from the aesthetic appeal of yellow gold, it is also popular as it is usually mixed with silver, which is a noble metal and is therefore hypo-allergenic, meaning it is less likely to cause skin irritation to the wearer.

Grasping Karats And Karatage

Karat and karatage pertain to gold (however, on some websites, you may have noticed the term “caratage,” which is the spelling used in the UK). In the United States, karats and carats are two entirely different things. A carat is a form of measurement used for gemstones. So if we are talking about a 1-carat diamond ring, this would be of a fair value; thus, it differs from gold.

The Value Of 750 Gold

The marking 750 is typically universally agreed upon to represent 18-karat gold, and either one of these terms means the same thing, and the value represented is the same. Unfortunately, the value and price of gold can fluctuate, so there is no telling exactly how much your piece is worth until you have it appraised. But what stands true is that 750 is known as high-graded solid gold.

If you are looking to sell your gold, be aware that the 750 marking indicates that it is highly valuable and that if it is jewelry in question, that it is neither gold-filled nor gold-plated, you can rest assured that your solid gold holds substantial value. And the way the value is determined is usually determined per gram.

A reliable jewelry buyer or one looking to purchase 750 gold should offer a relatively high price for this type of gold. Now, the flip side to this is that you will find that many buyers will attempt to fool you into believing their unfair evaluation of the gold and take the gold off of your hands for as little as they possibly can. Some jewelers will even go so far as to buy it for 50% of its value.

Gold Plated Jewelry Markings

When examining your gold jewelry, you may notice other markings, and the numbers on it do not reflect any value whatsoever. In these cases, you are looking at what is known as gold plated items or gold-filled, or it may even be plain old costume jewelry, and they have little to no value.

Are There Gold Items Of 750 That Are Fake?

When examining your gold and you notice that the marking indicates 750 or 75% purity, you are most likely looking at solid 18-karat gold. However, it is known that there are fake items of “gold” in circulation; however, they are highly uncommon, and a jeweler or appraiser will easily be able to tell you the difference.

If you want to test this for yourself, the best manner is by using a magnet, and it will aid you in telling whether your gold is pure or fake. Gold is diamagnetic, meaning that it will repel the magnet but will not attract the magnet. Just be aware that some clasps on gold jewelry are not made of high amounts of gold, usually due to steel inlays that ensure the clasps last.

Conclusion

When it comes to gold and, more often than not, gold jewelry, it will not feature a set amount of gold. The amount of gold from one article to the next varies. And to inform us of the percentage of gold within a particular item, a combination of letters and numbers indicates this. We need to focus our attention on the number, such as 750, which indicates 18-karat gold.

References

Similar Posts