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Published 14 October 2026 · By Golden Planet
In Germany, buyers rarely order “14 carat”. They order 585. Gold quality is expressed as fineness (Feingehalt) in parts per thousand, and when a fineness is stamped on jewellery, German law requires exactly that format.
This guide is written for German jewellers (Juweliere), wholesalers (Großhändler), buying groups (Einkaufsverbände), department stores (Kaufhäuser) and online retailers (Online-Händler). It explains how karat and fineness relate, what German law says about fineness marks and how to choose the right fineness for each part of your range.
Karat and fineness: two scales for the same thing
The karat scale (Karat) divides an alloy into 24 parts. 24 karat is fine gold (Feingold), and 14 karat means that 14 of the 24 parts are gold.
Fineness uses parts per thousand (Tausendteile). A fineness of 585 means that 585 of every 1,000 parts by weight are pure gold, or 58.5%. The rest is alloying metal, which mainly affects colour and hardness.
Most conversions are exact or very close: 9 karat is exactly 375, 18 karat exactly 750 and 21 karat exactly 875, while 8 karat corresponds to 333. The one to watch is 14 karat. Arithmetically, 14/24 is 58.33%, but the established European fineness is 585, slightly above that value.
Fineness table: karat, Feingehalt and gold content
| Karat | Fineness (Feingehalt) | Gold content | Other metals | Golden Planet supply to Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8K | 333 | 33.3% | 66.7% | Yes |
| 9K | 375 | 37.5% | 62.5% | Yes |
| 10K | 417 | 41.7% | 58.3% | No – produced for the US market only |
| 14K | 585 | 58.5% | 41.5% | Yes |
| 18K | 750 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Yes |
| 21K | 875 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Yes – selected EU markets, including Germany |
| 22K | 916 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Not part of our range (reference only) |
| 24K | 999 | 99.9% | 0.1% | Not part of our range (reference only) |
What German law says about fineness on jewellery
The rules come from the Gesetz über den Feingehalt der Gold- und Silberwaren (Feingehaltsgesetz, FeinGehG) of 1884, last amended in 2015. For jewellery (Schmucksachen), five points matter:
- Any fineness may be made and sold. Section 1 allows gold goods of any fineness and only regulates how a fineness may be stated.
- Jewellery may be stamped at any fineness, in thousandths. Under section 5(1), a fineness mark on jewellery must be given in parts per thousand. A 333 stamp on a ring or chain is therefore lawful. The 585 minimum in section 2 applies to other gold articles (Geräte), such as cutlery, not to jewellery.
- There is a tolerance. Section 5(2) limits the margin of error (Fehlergrenze) to ten parts per thousand when the whole piece is melted down.
- Stamping is voluntary. The Act does not oblige anyone to apply a fineness stamp; it governs the stamp only when one is used. The German Bundestag’s research service makes this point, citing a 1983 ruling of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).
- The seller is liable. Under section 7, the seller is responsible for the accuracy of the stated fineness.
Because section 5(1) asks for thousandths, a karat mark on its own, such as “14K”, is not a fineness designation under the Act. Section 6 adds that imported goods whose fineness is stated in a non-compliant form may only be offered for sale if they also carry a compliant stamp. In practice, a German order should specify 585, not only 14K. Our guide to hallmarking and marking rules in Germany covers this in detail.
Which fineness for which part of your range
Gold content drives the metal value of every piece, so the choice of fineness is mainly about price point, colour and what your customers expect.
333 (8K): the entry price point
333 is the lowest fineness we produce. It allows you to offer real gold jewellery at accessible prices, and German law allows it to be stamped on jewellery. With two-thirds of the alloy made up of other metals, its colour is usually paler than 585 or 750.
375 (9K): a step between 333 and 585
375 sits just above 333. It is useful if you want an extra step in your price architecture, or if you also supply markets where 9K is an established standard.
585 (14K): the all-round choice
585 offers a balance of gold content, colour and price. It is one of the finenesses German jewellery buyers ask for most often.
750 (18K): fine jewellery and stone settings
750 is three-quarters gold, with a deeper yellow colour. It suits higher-value pieces and stone settings. On request, we set selected designs with lab-grown diamonds; the same styles are also available in plain gold.
875 (21K): for customers who prefer high-carat gold
21K is a traditional fineness in Türkiye and the Middle East. We supply it to selected EU markets, including Germany, for retailers whose customers ask for high-carat jewellery. For the German market, it should be marked 875.
10K (417): not available in Europe
We produce 10K only for the US market and do not sell it anywhere in Europe.
White gold and nickel
Fineness tells you how much gold an alloy contains; the other metals determine its colour. White gold is gold alloyed with whitening metals, and some white gold alloys on the market contain nickel. In the EU, this is regulated. Under REACH, Annex XVII, entry 27, jewellery intended for direct and prolonged contact with the skin must not release more than 0.5 µg/cm²/week of nickel, and posts inserted into pierced ears or other pierced parts of the body no more than 0.2 µg/cm²/week. We do not use nickel in our white gold alloys.
How to specify fineness in a wholesale order
- State the fineness in thousandths on every order line (for example 585), not only the karat.
- Agree the stamp before production: the fineness in thousandths and, for private label orders, your brand. We apply the mark you specify, so for goods to be sold in Germany, ask for the fineness in thousandths.
- Ask for the fineness to appear on the invoice and the product specification for each line.
- Check clasps and findings. Under section 8(3), visible parts in another metal that are needed for a mechanism, such as a spring, are disregarded when fineness is assessed. Gold parts must match the stated fineness.
- Keep your supplier’s documents. As the seller, you are liable for the stated fineness under section 7.
If you are comparing suppliers, our checklist for sourcing gold jewellery from Türkiye covers due diligence, customs and lead times. For chains, see our overview of gold chain types and their German names.
Working with Golden Planet
Golden Planet is an Istanbul-based gold jewellery manufacturer and exporter, and one of Türkiye’s largest gold jewellery exporters. We sell only to trade buyers: wholesalers, distributors, jewellers, department stores, buying groups and online retailers in 20 countries.
Stock items are dispatched within 2 working days. Made-to-order production takes 4–6 weeks, and express production is available. Our Warsaw office, Golden Planet Sp. z o.o., serves buyers in Poland and the rest of Europe. Read more on our wholesale page, browse our products or contact our sales team.
Frequently asked questions
Is 333 gold real gold?
Yes. 333 gold contains 33.3% pure gold, and the rest is other metals. German law allows jewellery to be stamped at any fineness, provided the fineness is given in thousandths, so 333 is a lawful mark on jewellery in Germany.
Is 585 the same as 14 karat?
Almost. 14/24 works out at 58.33%, while 585 means 58.5% gold. In Europe, 585 is the standard fineness for 14 karat gold, and it is the figure that should appear on the stamp for the German market.
Can I sell jewellery stamped only “14K” or “21K” in Germany?
The Feingehaltsgesetz requires a fineness mark on jewellery to be given in thousandths. Under section 6, imported goods with a non-compliant fineness designation may only be offered for sale if they also carry a compliant stamp. Ask your supplier to stamp 585 or 875.
Do you supply 21K (875) gold jewellery to Germany?
Yes. We supply 21K to selected EU markets, including Germany. 10K (417) is produced only for the US market and is not sold in Europe.
Do you use nickel in your white gold?
No. Our white gold alloys are made without nickel. Under the EU’s REACH rules, jewellery in direct and prolonged contact with the skin must not release more than 0.5 µg/cm²/week of nickel.
Sources
- Gesetz über den Feingehalt der Gold- und Silberwaren (FeinGehG), sections 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, Federal Ministry of Justice: gesetze-im-internet.de/feingehg
- Deutscher Bundestag, Wissenschaftliche Dienste, “Die deliktische Haftung im Rahmen des Handels mit Gold- und Silberwaren”, WD 7 – 3000 – 161/18, 25 July 2018: bundestag.de (PDF)
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH), Annex XVII, entry 27 (nickel), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 552/2009: EUR-Lex and Regulation (EC) No 552/2009
- Golden Planet company information (karats, markets, lead times): Wholesale gold jewellery