Gold Karat Guide: What 10K, 14K, 18K and 22K Mean for Your Jewelry's Value

What does karat mean and why does it decide your jewelry's value?

The term karats when talking about jewelry simply means the purity percentage. The most common are 10K = 41.7% pure gold, 14K = 58.3% pure gold, 18K = 75% pure gold, 22K = 91.6%, and 24K = 100% pure gold. A higher karat represents a higher purity with most jewelry items being made out of 10K and 14K. Given that karats can range from 1K–24K, each karat represents roughly 4.17% purity (24 karat = 100%).

How do you read the stamps inside your jewelry?

Reading stamps in jewelry is a very easy process, you will want to scan the inside of the jewelry piece and look for stamped letters or numbers. If you see 417, 585, 750, or 916 — good news, you likely have an authentic gold piece. You may also see the markings 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, or 24K which also represent purities of gold.

When checking the markings, there are a few things that will tell you if the gold is plated and not pure. Watch for:

• “GF” — gold-filled
• “GP” — gold-plated
• “HGE” — heavy gold electroplate
• “1/20 10K” or “1/20 14K” — all indicate plated or gold-filled pieces, not solid gold

What is 14K gold worth per gram right now?

14K gold has a melt value of $76.73 per gram as of July 8th, 2026. The best way to calculate gold price for 14K is by taking the current spot price per troy ounce and dividing it by 31.1 (number of grams in a troy ounce) and multiplying it by .585 (this represents 58.5% pure gold). If selling to a dealer, expect 80% of the melt price.

Is 10K gold worth selling?

Yes — 10K gold is still one of the best karats of gold to sell. 10K gold, while lower purity, trades at the same rate as the slightly more common and higher purity 14K. Unless the 10K jewelry piece is in exceptional condition, it will likely be refined into a bar just like 14K. When you sell 10K gold you can expect to get the exact same percentage of melt offer as 14K assuming both pieces are to be refined. Oftentimes people assume 10K gold is cheap or worthless but that is the exact opposite of the true case.

What if there's no stamp on your jewelry?

If your jewelry does not have a stamp it has a less likely chance of being gold on a pure probability basis but is still worth testing. The magnet test is the easiest household test anyone can do on pieces of jewelry, if it sticks to the magnet, it is no good. Regardless, coin and jewelry buyers exist around Connecticut, like Haven Coin and Jewelry, to test your jewelry pieces with nitric acid and XRF technology. Even if you believe your jewelry is plated or fake, bring it in for a FREE evaluation, don't guess if your gold is real or fake.

Does broken or damaged gold jewelry lose value?

Broken jewelry, believe it or not, is worth the exact same to most gold buyers as perfectly working jewelry. When you bring a piece of jewelry into a gold buyer they are looking at the marking, testing its authenticity, and weighing it. Whether the clasp works or not — does not affect the weight. Single earrings, snapped chains, and broken bracelets are all worth REAL money if gold.

What about gold-plated and gold-filled pieces?

Gold fill and gold plate are more common than not. You can expect that when you go through a jewelry box you will almost always find at least a few pieces of both. Gold fill and plate while they look like 10K, 14K, or 18K are not worth much more than a few dollars. Gold plate is a thin layer of gold around a base metal like zinc, copper, or steel that does not carry a real melt value. Occasionally gold buyers will purchase very thick gold fill pieces as opposed to the thin layer of gold on a plated piece, many vintage gold fill pieces do have 3–5% purity of gold.

How do you sell gold jewelry in Hamden, CT?

Selling gold jewelry in Hamden, CT is easy with Haven Coin and Jewelry. It is as simple as calling the shop phone number (203) 717-4921 or using the book as an appointment feature if you suspect you have a larger collection and want more time. Haven Coin and Jewelry is one of Hamden's highest-rated coin shops, rated 5.0 stars on Google. We make honest offers using real time spot prices and market comparables. You can also read our full guide on how to sell gold jewelry in Connecticut to prepare before your visit.

FAQ: Gold karats and value

Is 24K jewelry common?

24K jewelry is one of the rarest forms of jewelry often found only from European or Asian countries. The most common types of jewelry are 10K and 14K as they are much cheaper than 24K to produce.

Why is my “gold” jewelry attracting a magnet?

Gold jewelry attracts a magnet when there is a magnetic base metal mixed or underneath the gold. Most 10K, 14K, and 18K gold jewelry should not attract a magnet. If your jewelry is not stamped and is heavily attracted to the magnet it is likely fake or gold plate. On some occasions 10K (because of its lower purity) can have trace base metal leading to slight magnetism.

Do gemstones add value when selling gold?

To most gold buyers the gemstones are worth very little, oftentimes the gold buyer will even offer to remove your gemstones and give them back to you. With the rise of lab grown diamonds and gemstone alternatives much of the money that was previously spent on gems is now spent elsewhere.

Is white gold worth the same as yellow gold?

Yes white gold 10K is worth the same as 10K yellow gold. The only thing different about white gold and yellow gold is that metals like nickel, silver, or palladium are used to turn the gold a white hue.