What do 585, 750 and 950 mean? Fineness simply explained

Numbers such as 585, 750 or 950 can be found on many pieces of jewelry. These figures are referred to as fineness and provide information on how much pure precious metal is contained in an alloy.

What is a fineness?

The fineness describes the proportion of precious metal in thousandths. For example, a fineness of 585 means that 585 out of 1000 parts consist of pure gold.

Typical fineness in jewelry

• Gold 585 - 58.5 % gold
• Gold 750 - 75.0 % gold
• Platinum 950 - 95.0 % platinum
• Silver 925 - 92.5 % silver

Why are precious metals alloyed?

Pure precious metals are often too soft for everyday use. By adding other metals, hardness, color and durability are specifically influenced.

Workshop tip

A higher fineness does not automatically mean a "better" piece of jewelry. The decisive factor is the right alloy for the intended purpose.

Further information on precious metals and alloys can be found in our central guide.