18K gold is 75% pure — 18 parts gold in 24. It is the standard for fine jewellery across Europe and much of Asia, and is noticeably richer in colour than 14K.
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At 75% pure, 18K carries considerably more gold than the 14K common in American jewellery. Ten grams of 18K contains 7.5 grams of pure gold against 5.83 grams for the same weight in 14K — nearly thirty per cent more metal for the same size of piece.
It is usually marked 18K, 750, or 0.750. Italian pieces are frequently 18K where the equivalent American piece would be 14K, which is worth remembering when buying estate jewellery at auction.
The trade-off is hardness. 18K is softer than 14K and marks more easily, which is why it is more common in earrings and pendants than in rings worn every day.
For a reseller the practical consequence is that 18K estate pieces often arrive worn: thin shanks, soft edges on engraving, and clasps that have been replaced. None of that changes the melt value, which is exactly why melt is the number to price against when a piece is too tired to sell as jewellery.
Buy and sell precious metals regularly? MyGoldWorth keeps your purchase cost, live melt value, inventory and real profit in one place — so the sums above are done for every piece you own, not one at a time.
Get MyGoldWorthExactly 75% of the current price of pure gold per gram. The calculator above does it against the live spot price.
Yes. 750 means 750 parts gold per thousand, which is 75%, which is 18 parts in 24.
It contains more gold per gram, so it is worth more as scrap. Whether it sells better as jewellery depends entirely on the piece and the buyer.