What Does "10K" Mean?

"41.7% gold by mass."

When stamped on gold, "10K" means "10 karats", signifying the composition is 41.7% gold and 58.3% other metals. The stamp/mark is usually located on the bottom or inside of the object - not immediately visible in plain view.

Magnified view of the inside of a 10K Gold Ring (Affiliate link).


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Updated: 2025-05-07
First published: 2024-10-01