750 Gold
What does 750 mean on gold?
750 means that 750 parts by weight in 1,000 are gold, or 75%. It is the thousandths fineness corresponding to 18-carat gold. The Norwegian Precious Metals Act expresses fineness on this parts-per-thousand basis.
750, 18K and 18KT
750 uses thousandths; 18K and 18KT use the 24-part carat system. Eighteen of 24 parts is exactly 75%, so these marks normally describe the same fineness. Marking practices can still differ by country and period.
Colour and alloy
750 gold may be yellow, white, red or rose. Colour does not determine fineness. Alloy metals change the colour and working properties. White gold may be rhodium-plated; wear to that surface coating can reveal a warmer tone without changing the fineness of the alloy beneath it.
Reading marks and assessing value
Read 750 with any maker’s or responsibility mark and control marks. The number alone is not proof of authenticity. Metal value is based on the net weight of the gold alloy, excluding stones, pearls and other materials. Maker, design, age, rarity, workmanship, provenance and condition may give the piece additional market value. Compare with 585 gold and the overview of gold.
Sources and further reading
- Norway’s Precious Metals Act, section 4 – the Norwegian basis for fineness expressed per thousand by weight.
- Store norske leksikon: gold and silver marks – background on Norwegian gold and silver marks.
