Glossary
333 gold (8 carat)
333 gold consists of one-third pure gold and is the lowest commonly used gold alloy in Germany.
333 gold contains 333 parts pure gold per 1,000, around one-third. The remaining two-thirds are copper, silver and zinc. This makes the alloy harder and much less expensive than 585 or 750, which is why it was Germany's standard quality for everyday jewellery for decades.
333 gold is a European speciality. In many countries it is no longer classified as gold because hallmarking starts at 375. In Germany it is completely normal, found in confirmation necklaces, wedding rings from the 1970s and 1980s and stud earrings.
Because its gold content is lower, 333 gold oxidises more readily than higher-fineness alloys and may tarnish over time. This does not matter when selling: tarnished pieces, bent necklaces and single earrings have the same material value as flawless jewellery.
What 333 gold is worth per gram
At a gold price of 120,00 € per gram of fine gold, one gram of 333 gold contains pure gold worth 39,96 €. A 15 gram necklace therefore has a material value of 599,40 €.
The payout for jewellery gold is 90 to 95 % of spot, approximately 539,46 to 569,43 € in this example. For comparison, the same necklace in 750 gold would have a material value of 1.350,00 €. At equal weight, the hallmark makes all the difference.
Sell 333 gold in Nordhorn
At our Nordhorn shop, we take 333 gold as seriously as any other alloy. We weigh separately, because calculating an entire mixed lot at the lowest fineness would be a poor deal for your 585 pieces.
Many people bring inherited 333 gold and wonder whether selling is worthwhile. The honest answer is that small individual pieces bring modest amounts, but a full jewellery box quickly adds up. The valuation is free and you decide afterwards.