750 stamped on jewelry means 18-karat gold, 75 percent pure gold by weight. The number is the European millesimal fineness equivalent of the American 18K stamp. If your piece is stamped 750, you have solid gold. Our Abercrombie’s 18K gold team, who evaluate 750 gold at our Westlake showroom, can tell you exactly what it’s worth.
Why 18K Gold Uses the 750 Stamp
The United States uses the karat system to express gold purity. 18K means 18 parts out of 24 are pure gold, which works out to 75 percent. Europe uses the millesimal fineness system, expressing purity in parts per thousand. 75 percent pure gold equals 750 parts per thousand, so European 18K pieces are stamped 750 rather than 18K.
Both stamps mean the same thing: 18-karat gold, and we see both regularly at our showroom. You’ll see either mark depending on where the piece was made. Italian, French, Swiss, and other European jewelry frequently carries the millesimal stamp. American and British pieces typically carry the karat stamp. Many luxury pieces carry both.
18K gold is the standard for European fine jewelry and designer pieces. Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, and most other major European houses produce in 18K gold as standard practice. If you’ve got a piece from a European designer, 750 is the mark you’d expect to find.
The Full Gold Hallmark System
Understanding 750 is clearer alongside the complete picture.
375, 9-karat gold, 37.5% pure gold. Common in the United Kingdom and Australia. Rarely seen in the United States.
417, 10-karat gold, 41.7% pure gold. The minimum legal standard for gold jewelry in the United States. Stamped 10K or 417.
585, 14-karat gold, 58.5% pure gold. The most common gold standard in the United States. Strikes a balance between gold content and durability. Stamped 14K or 585.
750, 18-karat gold, 75% pure gold. Standard for European fine jewelry and most luxury designer pieces. Richer in color and softer than 14K. Stamped 18K or 750.
916, 22-karat gold, 91.6% pure gold. Common in South Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry. Deeply saturated color, very soft.
999, 24-karat gold, 99.9% pure gold. Pure gold. Too soft for most jewelry. Found in coins and bullion.
Our 18K gold buyers, who test every piece regardless of the stamp, confirm the karat through professional testing before any calculation.
How 18K Compares to 14K
The difference between 14K and 18K matters for both wear and resale value, and it’s worth understanding before you accept any offer.
Gold content. 18K contains 75 percent pure gold. 14K contains 58.5 percent. Per gram of metal, 18K has roughly 28 percent more gold content, which we factor into every calculation and translates directly into a higher material value at any given spot price.
Color and appearance. 18K yellow gold has a richer, deeper yellow color than 14K because of its higher gold content, and the difference is noticeable side by side. 18K white gold also has a slightly different appearance; many jewelers consider 18K the premium standard for white gold pieces.
Durability. It’s counterintuitive, but 18K is slightly softer than 14K. The higher gold content means there’s a lower proportion of the harder alloy metals (copper, silver, zinc) that add strength. For pieces worn daily, 14K holds up to wear slightly better. For fine jewelry worn occasionally, the difference is negligible.
Value at resale. A 5-gram 18K piece has meaningfully more resale value than a 5-gram 14K piece at the same spot price simply because it contains more gold. Sellers who understand this don’t accept 14K-equivalent offers on 18K pieces, and we make sure our clients understand it.
What Other Hallmarks Appear Alongside 750
Maker’s marks and assay marks frequently accompany a 750 stamp.
On Italian pieces, a common combination is the 750 stamp alongside a star and a two-digit number indicating the assay office province. Italian gold is heavily regulated and hallmarked, and the combination of marks confirms both the purity and the country of manufacture.
On Swiss pieces, you’ll often see 750 alongside the word SWISS or a Swiss assay mark. Swiss luxury watch cases in 18K gold carry 750.
On French pieces, the owl mark (a small owl head) is the French assay mark for 18K gold. It often appears alongside 750 on French fine jewelry.
On luxury designer pieces, the maker’s mark or brand signature often accompanies the 750 stamp. A Cartier piece will carry its brand stamp alongside 750, and those pieces aren’t evaluated at plain melt. Our 18K-period evaluators, who assess designer and period marks alongside metal content, determine those premiums before presenting any offer.
What 750 Gold Is Worth
The material value of 750 gold follows the same formula as any gold calculation: weight in grams multiplied by 0.75 (the gold purity), then multiplied by the current spot price of gold per gram.
At current market levels, 750 gold carries more per gram than 14K gold. The spot price changes daily, but the math is consistent: 18K outperforms 14K by approximately 28 percent per gram of total piece weight.
Our evaluation team, which uses confirmed karat and live spot pricing in every calculation, shows you the math before presenting any offer so you can verify it yourself.
When 750 Gold Has Value Above Melt
Several categories of 18K gold jewelry carry collector premiums above the melt calculation.
European designer pieces. A Cartier Love bracelet, a Van Cleef Alhambra necklace, or a signed Bulgari piece carries brand value in the secondary market, pushing the offer above its pure metal value. These pieces sell to collectors and luxury resale buyers who specifically seek designer items.
Antique and period jewelry. Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Nouveau pieces in 18K gold with intact original construction carry collector value. The period and craftsmanship add premiums that a melt calculation entirely misses, and we don’t ignore them. Our vintage 18K specialists, who assess period pieces against current collector demand, give you that evaluation before any offer.
Estate 18K jewelry. Long-tenured families in Austin often hold 18K jewelry purchased in Europe or from luxury American retailers decades ago. These pieces can be significantly undervalued at a simple melt price. Our estate 18K evaluation team, who handle inherited collections in a single appointment and assess each piece individually, present both melt value and any applicable collector premium.
Selling 750 Gold in Austin
We buy 18K gold in all forms: rings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, loose pieces, and scrap. You don’t need to know the spot price before you come in, and you don’t need to clean or research anything. We test it, weigh it, check the live price, and explain every step before you decide.
For 18K pieces with diamonds or colored stones, our 18K diamond evaluators, who assess stones separately from the metal, present both values before any offer.
For 18K engagement rings and bridal jewelry, our 18K ring-selling team, who independently evaluate the stone and mounting, provides both components before any offer.
For pieces where platinum is combined with 18K gold, our gold and platinum buyers, who handle both metals in the same appointment, calculate each separately so you see exactly what each metal contributes.
For a formal written appraisal for insurance or estate documentation, our 18K gold appraisal, available by appointment at our Westlake showroom, is separate from the free verbal evaluation every client receives.
We’re open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 to 5:30, and Friday, 10:00 to 5:00 at 3008 Bee Caves Rd, Suite 100. Walk-ins are welcome, or call (512) 328-7530 to schedule.