What is 585 Gold
585 gold is same as “14 karat” gold. It is a gold alloy that contains 58.5% gold by weight. Rest of 41.5% is of any other metal like copper, palladium etc.
In this article we’ll look at what is 585 gold, what does 585 mean on jewelry, what are common 585 gold stamps or hallmarks and should you buy it?
585 Gold Meaning
585 gold karat means that a jewelry piece is made of 14 karat gold purity. Gold purity is used to determine the gold content in a gold alloy. More the gold content, more valuable and pure that jewelry piece will be. Other popular gold alloys are:
- 9 karat gold
- 10 karat gold
- 18 karat gold
- 20 karat gold
All of these gold alloys differ in their gold content. Among these, 20 karat will be most expensive as it contains biggest gold content. Similarly, 9 karat gold is the least expensive as it contains least amount of gold.
How Karat System Works?
Karat is a unit of measuring purity of gold in a gold alloy. It is measured out of 24 karats where 1 karat means 1 part of gold. For example, a 14k gold means that 14 out of 24 parts of this gold alloy are of gold and remaining 10 are of any other metal like copper. And similar goes on with other karats.
Carat vs Karat
Some people might get confused between carat and karat. Note that these two are totally different units. Carat is a unit of measurement of size of a gemstone i.e. diamond. Apart, karat is a unit of measurement of purity of gold. i.e. 14 karat in this case. It is also common to write 14 karat as “14k“.
How does 585 Jewelry Stamp Looks like?
585 gold jewelry stamp or 585 stamp on gold will contain hallmarks showing “14k” or “585“. If your jewelry contains these hallmarks, it is confirmed that it is made of 14 karat gold. However, if it does not, then reason can be any of the following ones.
- You have not checked properly.
- Your jewelry is too old and has lost all of its jeweler stamps.
- Your jeweler sold you an impure jewelry.
Here is an example of it where left one is showing white gold made with 14k purity and yellow gold in 585. Both of these are same.
Is It Possible That A Jeweler Does not Stamp a Jewelry Item?
No. Any jeweler who is reputable and owns the liability of what they have made, will never do it. If your jeweler did not stamp or does not want to stamp their jeweler, then you must avoid that jeweler. That jewelry is definitely impure or not gold at all.
How Many Colors are Available in 585 Gold?
The color of a 14 karat gold alloy depends on the remaining 41.5% of “other metal”. This remaining can consist of either one or more than one metals. If only copper is mixed with 58.5% of gold, it will become rose gold. Contrary, if aluminum and copper are mixed together with gold, it will become yellow gold.
White gold is a mixture of gold and platinum or nickel.
Does 585 Gold Tarnish?
Yes, 585 gold can tarnish. It will take around 1 to 2 years to tarnish it.
Is 585 Gold Pawnable?
Yes, 585 gold can be sold easily at any pawn shop. Make sure that it is solid 585 gold for a good price.
Where 585 Gold can be Used
It can be used in various forms such as gold plating, solid gold jewelry, gold vermeil and gold filled jewelry etc.
Gold Plating
585 in gold can be used for gold plating over a base metal like silver, copper or even steel. Main purpose of gold plating is to get gold looks at a cheaper price. This plating is very thin erodes off after some time.
Solid Gold Jewelry
The most commonly used jewelry of 585 gold is the solid gold jewelry. Different jewelry items such as necklaces, bracelets and rings can be easily made out of it. It is the most durable and hypoallergenic option than others like 9k or 18k.
Gold Vermeil
Gold vermeil is also similar to gold plating where the plated layer is at least 2.5 microns thick. There is not much difference between a gold plated jewelry and gold vermeil one other than the thickness of gold plating. Vermeil cannot stand stronger damages and will eventually get scratched just like gold plating. So, if you are buying a gold vermeil jewelry, you must understand that it is not going to last for a long time. Apart, you will have to re-plate it regularly for using.
Gold Filled Jewelry
Gold filled jewelry is a relatively newer type of gold jewelry. In this type of jewelry, gold is put over a cheaper base metal like silver or nickel just like gold plating. Gold filled is usually much more durable than gold plating or gold vermeil as it has at least 5 percent gold by weight. This makes it much more durable and long-lasting than gold plating or gold vermeil.
Pros of 585 Gold
585 gold offers the given set of pros.
1. Affordable
585 gold is an affordable option to have if you are tight on budget. As it is lower in purity level than 18k gold, less gold will be used in making it ultimately leading to less cost. For a more affordable option, buyers can also try out 585 gold plating or gold filled jewelry which will save them a lot of money. But obviously they will never be a good replacement for solid gold jewelry.
2. Scratch Resistant
Scratching is a common problem in gold jewelry. You can expect your gold jewelry to wear and tear with time. But there are some types which are more scratch resistant than others. For example, if you own 375 gold, it will get very less scratches in daily wearing than 750 gold.
3. Tarnishing Resistant
Tarnishing is one of the most common problem with jewelries containing silver or copper. It is basically a chemical reaction in which a rough layer is formed over metal’s surface causing duller appearance. 585 gold is a good tarnishing resistant metal but in some cases it can form tarnishing over it. This is mainly due to the presence of copper. The more copper you mix with gold, more will be the chances of tarnishing.
That’s why gold types with higher purity level have very less to none risk of tarnishing.
Cons of 585 Gold
Just like pros, 585 gold also offers some cons.
1. Low Purity
Compared to 18 karat gold, 585 gold is a less pure alloy of gold. This makes it having less goldish appearance. Some people might be ok with it while some may give purity a high priority. It all depends on the buying preferences of a buyer that what aspects they want to cater.
2. Non-Hypoallergenic
585 gold can be non-hypoallergenic at time if it contains high amounts of nickel. Normally it does not contain any nickel but some jewelers might add it with nickel in order to form whit colored gold alloys like white gold. This can lead to several allergic reactions specifically for people with sensitive skin. The best option to avoid such kind of thing is:
1. Avoid white gold with nickel
2. Use high purity gold like 750 or 18k
Conclusion
585 gold is a commonly used gold alloy in jewelry making. It can be used in various forms including gold plating, gold vermeil, solid gold and gold filled. It offers many pros like affordability, scratch resistance and tarnishing resistance if nickel is not used. Similarly, it also has cons. If you are one who is looking for an affordable option but can’t compromise on durability and purity factor, then 585 gold is for you.