What Does 750 Mean on Jewelry?

The 750 mark is a millesimal fineness stamp indicating that the jewelry contains 750 parts per thousand of pure gold — equivalent to 18 karats. This makes it one of the highest grades of gold commonly used in fine jewelry. The remaining 25% of the alloy consists of other metals chosen to enhance strength, color, and working properties. Copper and silver are the most common additions, with palladium or nickel used in white gold formulations.

Eighteen-karat gold strikes what many jewelers consider the ideal balance between purity and practicality. It has a rich, warm yellow color that is noticeably deeper than 14K (585) gold, yet it is hard enough to hold gemstone settings securely and resist the wear of daily use. This is why most luxury jewelry houses — including Cartier, Tiffany, and Van Cleef — use 18K gold as their standard.

The 750 marking system is the European standard and is more commonly seen on jewelry from continental Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In the United States, you are more likely to see the equivalent "18K" or "18Kt" stamp, though both marks mean exactly the same thing. Some pieces carry both marks. The 750 system is considered more precise because it expresses the exact gold content as a decimal fraction, whereas the karat system divides gold into 24 parts.

On rings, the 750 stamp is found on the inside of the band. For necklaces and bracelets, check the clasp, the tag near the clasp, or the end caps. On earrings, look on the post, the butterfly back, or the lever-back mechanism. Pendants typically carry the mark on the bail (the loop that connects to the chain). High-end pieces may also show the manufacturer's mark alongside the 750 stamp.