Buying exquisite jewelry comes with markings you might be unfamiliar with at the start. For instance, if you’ve recently purchased a piece of gold jewelry and noticed the marking that says “750,” you might be wondering what this means.
In short, 750 is a marking used to signify the purity of the gold material. In this guide, we’re breaking down the importance of stamps and rates that are printed on jewelry and what 750 means when purchasing fine gold pieces.
Why Stamp/Mixing Rates Are Used In Jewelry
Stamps and rates are essentially used for clarification purposes when buying jewelry. These numbers indicate the different properties or materials that have been used to strengthen the piece and make the jewelry more durable.
For example, pure gold (24k) is not the best for jewelry. While it’s incredibly valuable for its purity, this level is actually too soft for jewelry and can result in scratches or becoming easily bendable. That’s why adding alloys to gold jewelry, like other metals, is best for adding durability and creating different gold colors, like rose gold pieces.
When gold is mixed with alloys like copper, silver, zinc, palladium, or others, there’s a legal stamp requirement that has to be imprinted on the piece of jewelry. This stamp is for the buyer to see a hallmark guarantee that the piece has been mixed with other metals while also indicating the jewelry’s purity level.
What Exactly Does 750 Mean?
So, what does 750 mean on gold jewelry? If you see this number stamped on your precious gold heirloom jewelry, it is a hallmark guarantee statement that your piece is 75% pure gold. This is equivalent to 18 karat gold pieces.
This figure means that 25% of the remaining properties of the piece are the other metals we mentioned earlier, like copper, silver, zinc, palladium, or others. When added to pure yellow gold, these alloys can sometimes alter the color of the piece to give it a traditional yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold appearance.
More than the color these different alloys can create when mixed with pure gold, they also help support the piece by adding in more hardness. This extra hardness adds more durability to the piece to make it less bendable.
Features of 750 Gold Jewelry
750 gold jewelry pieces typically sport the traditional yellow gold colors for rich, luxurious looking jewelry. 18k gold pieces are wonderful to add to your jewelry box to make your collection more valuable, but there are a few pros and cons to note about 750 gold jewelry.
High Purity Count
Though 750 gold jewelry isn’t the highest purity count, it’s the highest (and best) count for jewelry. Since 75% of 750 is made with pure gold, you are getting a piece with significant value because of the higher gold content.
Durability
Another benefit to 750 gold jewelry is that it’s the most durable. Since 24k gold – totally pure gold without mixed in alloys – is too soft for jewelry, 18k gold adds in the strength that’s missing. That means your jewelry is less prone to bending and is stronger to wear for repetitive use.
Cost
One of the aspects to purchasing 18k gold you need to be aware of is cost. Because of the high purity content, 18k gold jewelry costs more than those with a lower purity count like 14k or 10k gold.
It’s Not Scratch-Resistant
Though the 25% of added alloys adds strength to the piece, they do not make the jewelry scratch-resistant. Gold mixed with other metals is still prone to the occasional scratches over time, as well as occasional tarnishing.
Things to Consider When Buying 750 Stamped Jewelry
It’s exciting to add authentic jewelry pieces to your collection that increase the value of your jewelry box, but there are a few things to consider when purchasing gold pieces stamped with 750.
Here are a few things to consider so you can choose not only the right piece of jewelry, but one that you know for sure is real.
Seller Authentication
Where you purchase your 750 gold jewelry is just as important as the piece itself. Make sure you purchase your jewelry from a reputable seller and that the jewelry has authentic stamps to indicate how true the 750 marking is. When it doubt, don’t hesitate to ask to see the seller’s certification or do your own research to check their reputability.
Personal Preferences
Buying gold jewelry comes down to several personal needs, such as budget and intended use of the piece. Consider how often you plan to wear the piece of jewelry or what type of occasions it’s for and then decide if the cost aligns with your budget. 18k gold is more expensive than 14k or 10k gold, so if you plan to wear the piece sparingly, a lower purity count might be the better option.
Enhance Your Gold Jewelry Collection Today
Add warmth and elegance to your jewelry box with pieces from our exquisite gold collections. Ferko’s carefully crafts gold rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings designed to elevate your everyday or special occasion styles.