What is 14k gold hallmark?

Post updated: Jul 11, 2020

The modern jewelry industry around the world offers a huge number of different yellow metal jewelry. The range includes products of various weights: from 1 gram to 11 kilograms for bank bars and shades of this metal from yellow to black. Due to the popularity of gold, many consumers are interested in the question of the correspondence between karat and hallmark of the yellow metal. For example, many people ask about the most common 14-karat gold on the world market and what standard does it correspond to in Russia?

Historical reference

To fully understand this issue, it is necessary to refer to the history of the origin of the term “carat”. The first mention of this ancient measure can be found in the bazaars of the Middle East and Asia. At that time, the carob seed, in Greek “keration”, was in use. Jewelry craftsmen began to use it as a quantity for measurement, because its mass was virtually unchanged. This made them most suitable for reliably measuring the weight of even the smallest gemstones.

However, this system was quite approximate, resulting in a similar stone having different weights in Lisbon and Amsterdam. Therefore, at the end of 1877, several noble merchants from Paris, Amsterdam and London decided that anywhere in the world a carat should be 205 milligrams.

Later this value was adjusted and at the moment a carat is equal to 1/50 of a gram.

Metric system

In the Russian Federation, exactly such a system is used, as in most countries of the world.
The sample is determined by thousandths of the mass of the pure element, and the values ​​range from 0-1000. A value of 999.99 means that this is pure precious metal. It is not used in the jewelry industry due to its extremely plastic properties (it can even be cut with a knife). Most often, 950, 750, 585, 500, 375 are used for jewelry. The higher the value in fractions, the correspondingly higher the price. So what does 14k gold mean, what grade is it? Everything is very simple, the two systems presented are related to each other by a simple mathematical equation: the value in carats multiplied by 1000 must be divided by 24. For example, 14 carats * 1000/24k = 585. In the global jewelry industry it is generally accepted that 14 carats is standard. And in our country, the most popular is 585 sample.

Regardless of carat, gold and jewelry can be of several colors:

1. Yellow color. It is a compound with copper and silver. The advantages of such gold are that it is less susceptible to corrosion, ductile and soft. These are the decorations that we all see on the shelves in great abundance.
2. Red (pink) color. It is an alloy with copper, and in small quantities with silver.
3. White gold. Compound with silver or other white metals such as palladium and nickel. Its advantages are that it is practically not polluted. If it is alloyed with nickel, then the jewelry has a yellowish-white tint, if with palladium, then it is steel-white, and if the product is plated with rhodium, then the surface shimmers with a cool blue tint.

In conclusion, I would like to note that jewelry with a mass fraction of pure substance less than 375 is not considered jewelry, but is only costume jewelry. And the most common standard of gold is 14 carat. So before buying, you need to check the labeling and read the description of the product so as not to make a mistake with such a parameter as price - quality

Different carat values

Firstly, the carat is a unit that determines the weight, and not just the quality of the product. As a rule, it is used to indicate the weight of precious and semi-precious stones, and is considered a non-systemic unit of measurement. In the Soviet Union, it was adopted in 1922, and earlier, in 1907, it was first established in Paris, at the fourth conference on weights and measures. Its value is 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). The abbreviated designation in Russian is kar, in the international system -ct.

According to the resolution of the International Organization of Legal Metrology, it was established that the carat can be a unit of measurement that can be temporarily used until a certain point, until our country (as the legal successor of the USSR) decides to abandon it. But given that we don’t actually use such a value, there is no particular need for this.

Secondly, it denotes the amount of pure gold in the alloy, measured in 24 parts of the total mass. The carat is the same unit of measurement for the purity of a substance as fineness.

The British carat is a non-metric unit for assessing the purity of an alloy and is equal to 1 part of the pure substance out of 24 parts of the total mass. The abbreviated designation is the capital English letter K. Pure gold has a purity of 24 carats (24k) and does not contain any impurities in the alloy.

A sample of 14 carat gold means that 24 parts of the alloy contain 14 parts of pure precious metal and 10 alloy impurities.

Carat may be used overseas to indicate the weight of gemstones.

The difference between a metric carat and a British carat is that it has the dimension of mass, and is not a dimensionless quantity.

How to convert samples into carats?

In the metric system of samples, which are considered standard in the Russian Federation, there are markings such as 375, 500, 585, 750 and 999. For example, sample 375 means that one kilogram of precious metal alloy contains at least 375 grams of natural gold. Pure gold has a purity of 999, but why not 1000? The whole point is that 1 unit, or rather its 0.01% part, falls on a conditional ligature.

The karate system is widespread in almost all European countries, as well as in the USA. The karat is a conventional unit that corresponds to pure gold (do not confuse the karat used to value gold with the karat of precious stones). According to the karat system, natural gold without any impurities is valued at 24 carats. In Europe and the USA, there are the following standard hallmarks: 9, 10, 14, 18, 24. That is, if the number 10 is indicated on the product, this means that 24 carats of the alloy account for 10 parts of pure gold, while impurities account for 14 ct.

To convert carats into samples, you should remember one simple formula for calculations: first of all, the number of carats should be divided by 24, and then the result obtained should be multiplied by 100, which will allow you to convert carats into samples. If we consider, for example, 14 carat gold, then it will correspond to 585 standard. What features does such an alloy have?

Matching samples and carats

The most popular in the former USSR was considered to be 14-karat gold - this is the 583 standard. Then it was replaced by the 585 standard. Thus, 14 times gold on the world market is a modern 585 standard. It is also the most common in Russia. 9K corresponds to 375-carat gold. 12K – 500th.

What hallmark corresponds to 18 carats? The 750 is compliant with British 18K. 958 – 23.996 – 23.9, and pure precious metal in 24K is equal to 999.9 fineness.

14 carats are the same as 585.

The minimum standard for yellow metal purity in most countries is 9 carats. Only Germany has a minimum 8K standard of 333.

Carat system

It is used all over the world, mainly in European countries and the States. Which means that on jewelry purchased abroad, the buyer will see a mark: gold purity in carats. Products usually use samples such as 24, 18, 14, 10, 9.

According to this system, 1 carat is 1/24 of the mass of the alloy. If there are no impurities in it, then the substance is pure and has a range of 24 carats. In proportion to this, 14 carat gold is 14 parts of pure substance, and the other 10 parts, respectively, are impurities.

Reasons for the popularity of 14K products

14 carat gold is very popular in Russia, as its price and quality are commensurate.

It is the most common and affordable option. When choosing gold jewelry intended for daily use, many people prefer 585 gold.

Products in 14k are in great demand in the post-Soviet space.

The alloy is almost ideal in its technical characteristics. It produces jewelry that is quite durable, resistant to wear, and has a beautiful appearance. Thanks to modern jewelry craftsmanship, they are no worse than products of a higher standard. These properties of the alloy make it popular in the production of vintage items and jewelry, which are often used as heirlooms.

14k or 585 gold consists of 58.5% pure gold in the alloy. The alloy is 41.5% and is represented by metals such as zinc, copper, nickel, palladium, silver, and platinum, which is often added to a white gold alloy. These impurities make the product durable and strong, and also give different color shades to the yellow metal.

Fans of such antiques as ancient gold should pay attention that the 585 standard is 56 spool.

What does 14k gold mean?

Under 14 carats is hidden the designation of the carat system, indicating the percentage of gold in the alloy. Keep in mind that in its pure form gold is very soft, so it is used only in alloys. A piece of jewelry, for example, a ring, signet, pendant or bracelet, must be tested to indicate how much pure metal is contained in the composition. Other elements include copper, silver, palladium, platinum, etc.

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The karat system assumes that pure gold is 24 carats. Accordingly, 14 carats means that the alloy contains 14 parts of pure gold and 10 parts of ligature. 14 karat gold indicates that the alloy contains 58.5% pure precious metal, the rest being impurities.

How is the calculation made? To convert a carat sample to a metric one, you need to divide the number of carats by 24, and then multiply by 1000. The correspondence of the samples will be as follows: 14 carats is the 585th metric and the 56th spool sample. By analogy, all other carat samples are translated if necessary.

Gold is considered an amazingly beautiful material that has a pleasant yellow tint (or white if it contains a large percentage of platinum or palladium). The metal is characterized by excellent malleability, inertness, density and ductility.

The table below provides information regarding the additives used in the alloy and the shade they impart to the metal.

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It is 14 carat gold (585th standard) that is now most in demand. Jewelry made from it is quite durable and resistant to wear, but at the same time all the characteristics of gold are preserved. Even after prolonged wear, gold does not darken or oxidize, and if necessary, it can always be cleaned and polished to restore its original attractiveness. The price is also pleasing, which (in comparison with other, higher grades of the precious metal) is quite affordable.

Cost of 14K gold

Many people are interested in the cost of one gram of 585 gold or 14 carat gold in Russia.

The price of this yellow metal currently varies from 1,700 to 3,200 rubles per 1 gram, depending on the manufacturer. When selling, the price may be significantly lower. On average, pawnshops buy precious metals from the population for 1200-1600 rubles per gram.

Gold for investing your savings can be purchased at a bank in the form of bars, coins or an unallocated metal account. The cost is not constant and before purchasing it is worth looking at quotes from Sberbank of the Russian Federation.

Characteristics of 14 karat gold

For 24 carats of this alloy there are 14 carats of pure gold, so high-quality jewelry can be made from it, including those with precious stones. In addition, jewelers add metals to the ligature of such an alloy, which can change the shade of gold. For example, if the impurities are white metals, then this allows you to get beautiful white gold. Also, 14-karat gold can have red, yellow, pink and lemon colors - it all depends on the ratio of the components of the alloy.

Gold, valued at 14 karats, has many benefits. First of all, it has excellent wear resistance, strength and beauty. Today, 1 carat of such gold is valued in Russia in the range of 3500-4500 rubles (in the product). The price per gram of metal in this case is determined by the complexity of the work of the master jeweler and the brand of the jewelry manufacturer.

To choose genuine 14-karat gold, purchase it only at a large jewelry store, which will help you avoid purchasing a fake.