What 18K gold actually is
Karat is a ratio out of twenty-four. 18K means eighteen parts gold to six parts other metal, which is 75% gold by weight. It is stamped 750 in fineness terms, three quarters of a thousand.
The alloy balances richness and strength. The gold colour is deeper than in 14K, but the metal is still hard enough for rings and watch cases. White gold and rose gold are made at this purity by changing the other metals, which is why a white gold ring can be as valuable as a yellow one of the same weight.
What 18K is worth right now
At the spot price this page loaded with, $4,072.10 per troy ounce, 18K works out to:
| Weight | Melt value | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | $98.19 | A fine chain link |
| 5 grams | $490.95 | A plain wedding band |
| 10 grams | $981.91 | A substantial ring or bracelet |
| 1 pennyweight | $152.70 | The unit a pawn shop will quote |
| 1 troy ounce | $3,054.08 | A heavy chain or a set of rings |
These are melt figures: the metal only, at 100% of spot, before any buyer’s margin and before deducting stones.
18K against the other karats
| Karat | Gold content | Value vs 18K | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 41.67% | −44.4% | Class rings, budget chains |
| 14K | 58.33% | −22.2% | Most US jewelry |
| 18K | 75.00% | — | Fine jewelry, watch cases |
| 22K | 91.67% | +22.2% | Gold Eagles, South Asian jewelry |
| 24K | 99.9% | +33.3% | Bars and investment coins |
A piece stamped 18K and one stamped 750 are the same alloy. Watch cases are often marked 750 together with a maker’s hallmark, so check that the mark covers the case and not just a gold-plated part.
Where you will find 18K gold
- Fine jewelry and engagement rings. Common in higher-end pieces and European jewelry.
- Luxury watch cases and bracelets. Weigh the case without the movement, crystal and strap.
- White and rose gold. The colour comes from the alloy, so the gold content is the same 75%.
- Imported pieces. Often stamped 750 rather than 18K.
Plated and filled pieces to rule out
These marks can sit next to a karat number and mean the piece is not solid gold. They are worth close to nothing as scrap:
- 18K GP — gold plated. A microscopically thin layer.
- 18K GF or 1/20 18K GF — gold filled. A bonded layer, typically 5% of total weight, and rarely worth refining in small quantities.
- 18K HGE or RGP — heavy gold electroplate and rolled gold plate. Still plating.
- 925 with a gold colour — vermeil: gold-plated sterling silver. The silver has value; the gold layer does not.
Solid 18K is stamped 18K, 18KT or 750, with nothing else appended. Not sure? Read how to tell if gold is real.
Before you sell 18K
- Weigh it yourself first, on a scale that reads to 0.01 g, and note the number.
- Separate 18K from other karats. A mixed pile gets priced at the lowest karat in it.
- White gold is often rhodium-plated and rose gold is not a different purity. Both are valued at the same 75% as yellow 18K.
- Ask for the quote as a rate per gram or per pennyweight at 18K, not as a lump sum, so you can check it against the melt figure above.
- Get three quotes. The spread between a pawn shop and a refiner on the same piece is routinely double. The full process is in how to sell scrap gold.
18K gold questions
How much is 18K gold worth per gram?
18K is 75% gold, so a gram is worth 0.75 times the 24K per-gram rate. The headline rates at the top of this page show today's figure before any buyer margin.
What does 750 mean on my jewelry?
750 is the fineness stamp for 18K: 750 parts gold per thousand, or 75%. European and imported pieces use this instead of a karat mark.
Is 18K worth more than 14K?
Per gram, yes. 18K is 75% gold against 14K's 58.33%, so it is worth about 29% more for the same weight. A heavy 14K chain can still be worth more in total than a light 18K ring.
Is white gold the same value as yellow gold?
At the same karat, yes. White 18K is also 75% gold. The colour comes from the other metals in the alloy, so the melt value depends only on weight and purity.
How do I value an 18K watch case?
Weigh the gold case or bracelet without the movement, glass and strap, then apply the 18K rate. The movement and brand may be worth far more than the metal, so get a watch appraisal before selling for scrap.