What does 14K ITALY mean on jewelry?
Short answer
14 karat gold (585 parts per thousand). ITALY is a country mark: it says where the piece was made or imported from, not what the metal is. The number carries the fineness.
A mark is a statement, not proof: it can be forged or struck on a plated piece. An assay confirms it (touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence).
Reading the stamp, part by part
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 14K | 14 karat gold (585 parts per thousand). (58.5 % gold, 14 karat) |
| ITALY | Country mark. Country-of-origin marking has been required in the US since the McKinley Tariff Act (1891); "Made in" became usual later. |
| Legal standard | United Kingdom, Vienna Convention states, France, United States |
What is 14K ITALY worth by weight?
A gram of metal stamped 14K holds 0.585 g of fine gold, if the stamp is accurate. Example only, not live: 10 g at $4,046.30 per troy ounce (snapshot 2026-11-10) is $761.04.
Melt value calculator for 14K
Enter a weight and a stamp to see the sum.
Today's spot price: LBMA precious metal prices, Kitco live gold or your own dealer's quote. This page never contacts a price service.
What it can be mistaken for
- plated and gold filled
- pinchbeck and gilt brass
- silver gilt (vermeil)
The metal. Colour is not a fineness, and a mark can be forged.
Related
Frequently asked
What does 14K ITALY mean on jewelry?
14 karat gold (585 parts per thousand). ITALY is a country mark: it says where the piece was made or imported from, not what the metal is. The number carries the fineness.
Does ITALY tell me the quality of the gold?
No. It is a country-of-origin mark. Country-of-origin marking has been required in the US since the McKinley Tariff Act (1891); "Made in" became usual later. The 585 is the fineness claim.
Is 14K ITALY a hallmark?
A mark is a statement, not proof: it can be forged or struck on a plated piece. An assay confirms it (touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence). The 585 is a quality stamp the maker applied; check the standards in the table for where it is legal.
Sources
- Arithmetic: karats / 24 × 1000 (no external source)
- National Gold and Silver Stamping Act, 15 U.S.C. § 294
- Hallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 2 (revised text)
- Vienna Convention on precious metals, Technical Decisions Rev. 13 (in force 1 Oct 2026)
- Douane française, table of guarantee marks (2009)
All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.