585 Gold (14 Karat)
Also: 14 carat, 14k, 585, 14ct, 14K gold
585 gold is a gold alloy with a fineness of 585 parts per thousand (58.5 %), matching the international 14 carat standard and widely used in jewellery.
585 gold - also known as 14 carat gold - is one of the most widely used gold alloys in jewellery worldwide. A "585" stamp means that of every 1,000 parts by weight, exactly 585 are pure gold. The remaining 415 parts are alloying metals such as silver, copper, zinc or palladium, chosen deliberately to influence the colour, hardness and workability of the metal. You can establish the current value of your 585 pieces directly in the melt value calculator.
Origin and meaning of the carat stamp
The carat system divides gold purity into 24 equal parts. 14 carat therefore means 14 of 24 parts are fine gold.
Fineness = carat / 24 x 1000
14 / 24 x 1000 = 583.33 = approx. 585
The rounded trade figure "585" is the official hallmark in practice, since an exact 583 alloy is barely manufacturable - in reality the alloy contains at least 585 thousandths of gold, often marginally more. In the United States the carat notation "14K" is used exclusively, while in Ireland and the wider EU the per-mille stamp "585" is customary. Both designations are legally equivalent.
Composition and colours
Depending on the mix of alloying metals a different colour emerges:
| Colour | Gold | Silver | Copper | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow gold (classic) | 58.5 % | ~25 % | ~15 % | <=1.5 % Zn |
| Rose / red gold | 58.5 % | ~8.5 % | ~33 % | - |
| White gold (Pd) | 58.5 % | ~24 % | ~3 % | ~14.5 % Pd |
| White gold (Ni) | 58.5 % | ~10 % | ~20 % | ~11.5 % Ni + Zn |
| Green gold | 58.5 % | ~35 % | ~6.5 % | - |
Nickel-bearing white gold can cause contact allergies in sensitive wearers; across the EU the permitted nickel release from jewellery in prolonged skin contact is capped by the REACH Regulation (Annex XVII, entry 27) and tested to standard EN 1811. Palladium white gold is the more skin-friendly alternative.
Why 585 gold for jewellery?
Against near-pure fine gold (999.9), 585 gold offers clear practical benefits:
- Hardness: fine gold (Mohs hardness ~2.5) is too soft for everyday wear. Depending on the alloy, 585 gold reaches a Vickers hardness of 120-170 HV - resistant to scratches.
- Workability: better casting and soldering properties for fine settings and delicate structures.
- Economy: with a fine gold share of 58.5 %, the metal value is noticeably lower than 750 gold (18 carat), which broadens its buyer base.
- Colour variety: targeted alloying produces yellow, red, rose, green and white gold variants from the same base purity.
Compared with 333 gold (8 carat, 33.3 % gold) and 375 gold (9 carat), 585 gold carries a considerably higher precious-metal reserve that is also valued more favourably on buy-back and resale.
Calculating the melt value
The metal value of a 585 piece follows from the current gold price and the fine weight:
Melt value = weight (g) x 0.585 x gold price (EUR/g)
Example: a 585 gold ring weighing 5 g at a gold price of EUR 85/g:
5 g x 0.585 x 85 EUR/g = 248.63 EUR
This is the pure metal value with no allowance for craftsmanship, dealer margin or collector premium. Use the melt value calculator for live figures or the gold calculator for different units of weight.
Marking obligations and hallmarking
Where jewellery and watch cases in 585 gold are sold as "gold" in the EU, they must be hallmarked. Permitted stamps include:
- 585 (per-mille stamp, EU standard)
- 14K or 14kt (US/UK notation)
- 14C or 14ct (older British notation)
- The maker's mark or responsibility mark
The Vienna Hallmarking Convention of 1972 eases mutual recognition of hallmarks among member states (including Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland and others). Pieces from non-member countries may carry additional national import hallmarks.
Dental gold alloys on a 585 basis (older dental bridges and crowns, for instance) fall into the same purity band and can likewise be valued with the dental gold calculator.
585 gold in comparison
| Alloy | Carat | Fineness | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333 gold | 8 carat | 33.3 % | Entry segment, rare in UK/IE |
| 375 gold | 9 carat | 37.5 % | UK, Ireland, Australia, entry jewellery |
| 585 gold | 14 carat | 58.5 % | Jewellery, dental, USA/Eastern Europe |
| 750 gold | 18 carat | 75.0 % | High-end jewellery, CH/IT/FR |
| 916 gold | 22 carat | 91.6 % | Coins, Indian gold jewellery |
| 999 gold | 24 carat | 99.9 % | Bars, bullion coins |
In North America and Eastern Europe, 14 carat is the dominant jewellery alloy; in Western Europe and Switzerland, 750 gold (18 carat) is more often regarded as the quality standard. For pure investment products (bars, bullion coins) only fine gold (999/999.9) is customary in the market.
Tax notes
585 gold jewellery is not VAT-exempt investment gold; in Ireland its sale carries the standard VAT rate of 23 %. The VAT exemption applies only to investment gold - bars from a fineness of 995 upwards, plus certain investment coins with a fineness of at least 900, minted after 1800 and formerly or currently legal tender.
For a private seller in Ireland, any gain on the sale of 585 gold is chargeable to Capital Gains Tax at 33 %, after the annual personal exemption of EUR 1,270. There is no holding-period relief, so - unlike Germany's one-year rule under Paragraph 23 EStG - the gain remains chargeable however long the item was held. Note: this is not tax advice; for binding information contact the Revenue Commissioners (revenue.ie) or a qualified adviser.
In brief
585 gold pairs an economically attractive gold share of 58.5 % with strong everyday durability and colour variety - it is the world's best-selling jewellery alloy and, at the same time, a solid metal value that you can check any day with the melt value calculator.