333 Gold (8 Karat)
Also: 8 carat gold, 8kt, 333/1000, Eight-carat gold
333 gold is a gold alloy with a fineness of 333 parts per thousand (33.3 %), equivalent to 8 carat, used mainly in the jewellery trade.
333 gold - colloquially known as 8 carat gold - contains exactly 333 parts of pure gold in every thousand parts by weight. That corresponds to a fineness of 33.3 %. The remaining 66.7 % or so is made up of alloying metals, most often copper, silver and zinc, which govern the hardness, colour and workability of the finished piece.
How the carat figure arises
The carat scale divides gold content into 24 equal parts. 8 carat means that 8 of those 24 parts are pure gold:
Fineness = (carat / 24) x 1000
8 / 24 x 1000 = 333.33
The melt value calculator uses this fineness to work out the current metal value of any item automatically.
Composition and colour variants
Choosing different alloying metals produces distinct visual results:
| Colour | Gold content | Main additions |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow gold 333 | 33.3 % | Copper + silver |
| Red gold 333 | 33.3 % | High copper share |
| White gold 333 | 33.3 % | Silver, zinc, nickel |
White gold at 333 often still contains nickel, which can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive wearers. Across the EU the nickel regulation sets release limits for products in prolonged skin contact.
Where 333 gold is used
333 gold appears mainly in the following areas:
- Fashion and everyday jewellery: rings, chains and bangles in the lower price bracket
- Children's jewellery: the extra hardness from the large alloy share makes it durable
- Eastern European market: in countries such as Poland, Czechia or Russia 333 gold was historically widespread
- Scrap and broken gold: older pieces from the former Eastern Bloc frequently carry this alloy
Calculating the melt value
The metal value follows from the current gold price and the fine weight:
Melt value = weight (g) x 0.333 x gold price (EUR/g)
Example: a 333 gold ring weighing 4 g at a gold price of EUR 85/g:
4 g x 0.333 x 85 EUR/g = 113.22 EUR
This is the pure metal value with no dealer margin. For live figures the melt value calculator is available.
Comparison with other gold alloys
Compared with 585 gold (14 carat) or 750 gold (18 carat), 333 gold has a markedly lower gold concentration. This feeds directly into the buying price: one gram of 333 gold holds only 0.333 g of fine gold, whereas a gram of 585 gold already delivers 0.585 g.
The gold calculator works out the current metal value from the live gold price and the relevant fineness.
Marking and hallmarks
Where jewellery is sold as "gold", it should carry a hallmark stating the metric fineness. A visible "333" stamp confirms the alloy. Where a stamp is missing, the fineness can be established by an acid test or by X-ray fluorescence analysis.
Tax notes
333 gold jewellery does not qualify as VAT-exempt investment gold; in Ireland its sale carries the standard VAT rate of 23 %. The VAT exemption applies only to investment gold - bars and coins meeting the fineness and legal-tender conditions set out in the VAT Consolidation Act 2010.
For a private seller in Ireland, any gain on the resale of 333 gold at a profit is chargeable to Capital Gains Tax at 33 %, after the annual personal exemption of EUR 1,270. There is no holding-period relief - the German one-year rule under Paragraph 23 EStG does not apply here. This is not tax advice; for individual cases consult the Revenue Commissioners (revenue.ie) or a qualified adviser.
In brief
333 gold, with its fineness of 33.3 %, is the cheapest gold alloy still marketed as "gold" in several European countries. To value it for sale or melting, the melt value calculator gives a fast and accurate starting point.