14 carat gold (also written 14ct or 14K) means 14 parts out of 24 are pure gold. In percentage terms that means a piece of jewellery or gold item marked “14ct” is made of 58.5% fine gold. The remaining 41.5% is usually made of harder metals such as copper, silver, zinc or palladium. The addition of these metals in this split means it gives the alloy extra strength, and makes the piece more hard wearing. With the ability to add 41.5% other metals, jewellers can also alter the overall colour of the final piece by introducing different colour metals creating yellow, white, rose, or green gold.
In the UK there are laws on hallmarks gold should carry. Under the UK Hallmarking Act, any item sold and advertised as gold that is over 1g in weight must carry the three compulsory symbols, the sponsors/makers mark, the metal fineness (purity), and the assay office mark.
For 14ct gold you would normally see the metal fineness (purity) mark as below:
It's actual worth can vary depending on piece design and complexity. But based on just metal value you can find the intrinsic value using the gold spot price.
Gold spot prices are quoted for pure (24ct / 999.9) gold. To find value of 14ct:
Gold Spot price × 0.585 = 14ct intrinsic price
Example (rounded): if the current gold spot is £78 / g, 14ct’s pure-metal value is £78 × 0.585 ≈ £45.63 / g. Remember this isn't usually the price a scrap gold buyer will pay as they will work off a percentage from spot price to allow for their margin.
14ct gold is not considered an investment grade gold. For investment grade bullion you would be investing in 24ct gold bars, or bullion coins in 22ct or 24ct.
Although 14ct gold is not considered investment grade, you can still benefit from value inflation if the gold price moves positively.
So if you are looking to purchase a jewellery piece in 14ct, its important to note that there will be a high premium paid for the labour, design costs, and jewellers overheads to create the item, which is lost when resold for gold value. You will still benefit from any increase in value of the gold content.
Gold plated jewellery pieces only have a gold layer of a few microns thick over a base metal. For a scrap dealer, the actual recoverable gold weight is tiny so many dealers will not buy these items, unless the base metal has some value.
| Grade | Gold % | Colour | Durability | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 ct (375) | 37.5 % | Pale yellow | Highest | Budget jewellery, charm bracelets |
| 14 ct (585) | 58.5 % | Warm yellow / rose / white | Excellent | Engagement & wedding rings, fine chains |
| 18 ct (750) | 75 % | Rich yellow | Good | Luxury jewellery, high-end watches |
14ct sits neatly in the middle as a balanced option with a richer hue than 9ct, tougher and more affordable than 18ct.
you are buying, selling or simply wearing to enjoy, 14 carat gold delivers an excellent balance or luxury, elegance, strength and value. Understanding its 58.5% purity, the UK's 585 hallmark and the way dealers will calculate the price will ensure you make the right decision when buying or selling 14 carat gold.
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