Live melt value for 14K gold — 58.33% pure gold (585, 14K, 14KT, 14ct)
14K gold contains 14 parts gold per 24 — 58.33% pure gold — with the remaining 41.67% composed of silver, copper, zinc, palladium, or nickel depending on color variant. It is by far the most common gold purity in the United States, dominating engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry across the $1,000–$10,000 retail price range.
The reason 14K became the US standard is durability. Pure 24K gold has a Vickers hardness of approximately 25 HV — it deforms easily and scratches under daily wear. The alloy metals in 14K bring hardness to approximately 120–150 HV, comparable to 18K and significantly harder than 24K. This makes 14K prong settings and band edges resistant to the physical stress of everyday rings. Approximately 70% of engagement rings sold in the US are 14K, per World Gold Council market data — the single most commercially dominant karat in the world's largest jewelry market.
| Weight | Pure Gold Content | At $3,000/oz | At $3,200/oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | 0.5833 g | $56.27 | $60.03 |
| 1 DWT (pennyweight) | 0.9071 g | $87.50 | $93.33 |
| 5 grams | 2.917 g | $281.35 | $300.14 |
| 10 grams | 5.833 g | $562.70 | $600.29 |
| 20 grams (avg. ring) | 11.666 g | $1,125.40 | $1,200.58 |
| 1 troy oz (31.1g) | 0.5833 ozt | $1,749.90 | $1,866.56 |
| 1 oz avoirdupois (28.35g) | 0.5317 ozt | $1,595.10 | $1,701.44 |
Nominally equivalent — but not mathematically identical. "14K" is a US karat stamp: 14 parts gold per 24 = 58.333...% (a repeating decimal). "585" is the European millesimal fineness stamp: 585 parts per 1,000 = exactly 58.5%. A European piece hallmarked "585" technically contains slightly more gold than a US piece stamped "14K" — 58.5% vs. 58.333%, a difference of 0.167 percentage points.
In practice: per 10 grams of metal, a "585" piece contains approximately 0.0167 grams more pure gold than a "14K" piece. Negligible for most transactions, but meaningful for high-weight estate pieces. Both are internationally accepted as "14K gold" for trading purposes. XRF testing will reveal the actual gold percentage if precision matters for a specific appraisal or sale.
All three color variants contain 58.33% gold. The alloying metals determine color, hardness, and hypoallergenic properties:
| Color | Gold | Silver | Copper | Other | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 58.33% | ~25% | ~16.67% | — | Warm classic yellow; richer hue than 10K yellow due to higher gold content |
| Rose | 58.33% | ~9% | ~32.67% | — | Deeper, richer pink than 10K rose; high copper fraction creates warm tone |
| White | 58.33% | — | — | Pd or Ni+Zn | Palladium whitening is economically viable at 14K — better hypoallergenic option than 10K white |
All three colors have identical melt value at any given spot price — refiners purchase only the gold fraction. The alloy metals (silver, copper) are recovered separately at their own commodity values, but the gold buyer's offered price is based purely on gold content.
No — and this is a common misconception with real financial consequences. Under IRC Section 408(m)(3)(B), gold held in a self-directed IRA must have a minimum fineness of .995 (99.5% pure) to qualify as an approved precious metal investment. 14K gold at 58.33% purity is far below this threshold. The only gold products that qualify for IRA inclusion are investment-grade bullion bars at ≥.995 fineness and certain government-minted coins explicitly listed in the statute (American Gold Eagles are an exception, qualifying despite being 22K/91.67% under a separate provision of §408(m)(3)(A)).
14K jewelry, chains, and scrap cannot be held in or contributed to a precious metals IRA regardless of weight, condition, or value. Consult a qualified tax or IRA advisor before making any decisions based on IRA-eligibility of gold assets.
Standard stamps: 585 (European millesimal), 14K, 14KT (T = troy), 14ct (British/Australian). Letter suffixes after the karat number mean the item is not solid gold: 14K GF = gold-filled (≥1/20 gold layer by weight); 14K GP = gold-plated (thin electroplate); 14K RGP = rolled gold plate. A bare "585" or "14K" with no suffix = solid gold throughout. Stamp locations: inner ring band, chain or bracelet clasp, pendant bail or reverse face, earring post.
| Karat | Purity | Fineness | Hardness (HV) | IRA-Eligible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.99% | 999 | ~25 HV | Yes (bars ≥.995) |
| 22K | 91.67% | 916 | ~90 HV | Eagles only |
| 18K | 75.00% | 750 | ~120–150 HV | No |
| 14K | 58.33% | 585 | ~120–150 HV | No |
| 10K | 41.67% | 417 | ~120 HV | No |
| 9K | 37.50% | 375 | ~120 HV | No |
Live melt value is shown in the calculator above, updated every 60 seconds. Formula: spot price ÷ 31.1035 × 0.5833. At $3,200/oz: $60.03/gram. At $3,000/oz: $56.27/gram. At $2,800/oz: $52.51/gram. Multiply by your weight in grams for total melt value.
Not quite — "14K" means 14/24 = 58.333...% (repeating decimal). "585" means 585/1000 = 58.5% exactly. A European piece stamped "585" contains fractionally more gold than a US piece stamped "14K" — about 0.0167 grams more per 10 grams of metal. For most transactions the difference is negligible; for high-weight estate pieces, XRF testing reveals the actual percentage. Both are internationally treated as equivalent for trading purposes.
Two reasons: hardness and value. Pure 24K gold has a Vickers hardness of ~25 HV — prong settings deform and ring edges scratch under daily wear. 14K alloy reaches ~120–150 HV, hard enough for decade-plus daily wear. 18K is similarly hard but costs significantly more per piece. ~70% of engagement rings sold in the US are 14K (World Gold Council), representing the sweet spot between gold content, durability, and price. The US engagement ring market is ~2.5 million rings per year at an average ~$6,000 retail — roughly $10.5 billion annually, predominantly in 14K.
No. IRC Section 408(m)(3)(B) requires gold held in a self-directed IRA to have a minimum fineness of .995 (99.5% pure). 14K is 58.33% — far below the threshold. The only IRA-eligible gold includes investment-grade bars at ≥.995 fineness and certain government-minted coins (American Gold Eagles are a specific statutory exception despite being 22K/91.67%). 14K jewelry and scrap cannot be held in a precious metals IRA. Consult a qualified tax advisor for IRA-specific guidance.
All three contain 58.33% gold — only the alloying metals differ. 14K yellow: ~58.33% Au + ~25% Ag + ~16.67% Cu — rich warm yellow, deeper than 10K. 14K rose: ~58.33% Au + ~9% Ag + ~32.67% Cu — deep warm pink, the higher copper fraction vs. 10K rose creating a richer tone. 14K white: ~58.33% Au with palladium or nickel/zinc blend; palladium is economically viable at 14K (unlike 10K), making palladium-based 14K white gold the standard hypoallergenic choice. All three have identical melt value.
14K is the most internationally liquid common karat — recognized as a standard fineness in both US and EU hallmarking systems. Typical payout as % of melt: direct refiners 90–95%; online gold buyers 88–93%; local coin dealers 85–92%; jewelry stores 70–85%; pawn shops 50–70%. Worked example: 20 grams of 14K at $3,200/oz spot = $1,200.58 melt value. A dealer offering $900 = 75% of melt — fair for jewelry store, low for a refiner. Always get at least two quotes and divide any offer by your calculated melt value.
Compare the live price per gram across all common gold purities at today's spot price.
| Karat | Purity | Common Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K Gold | 99.99% | Bars, bullion coins | 24K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 22K Gold | 91.67% | Krugerrands, Eagles | 22K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 18K Gold | 75.00% | Fine jewelry | 18K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 14K Gold | 58.33% | US jewelry standard | 14K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 10K Gold | 41.67% | Entry-level jewelry | 10K Gold Price Per Gram → |