1. Jewelry Identifier
  2. Hallmarks
  3. 9K

* Gold hallmark

The 9K hallmark: meaning, purity & value

9K (375) is the UK/Australia minimum gold hallmark. Everyday jewelry standard; melt = spot × 0.375 × grams.

Published May 30, 2026

Quick facts

Metal
Gold
Purity
37.5%
Fineness
375/1000
Karat
9K
Common regions
United Kingdom, AU
Density
11.2 g/cm³
Standard
ISO 9202

Stamps that mean the same thing

This purity may be struck into jewelry as any of: 9K / K9 / 375. The mark differs by country and era, but the metal content is identical.

What 9K tells you

9K (375) is the UK/Australia minimum gold hallmark. Everyday jewelry standard; melt = spot × 0.375 × grams.

How to value it

The melt value of a 9K piece is gold spot price × 0.375 × weight (g). A buyer typically deducts 5–15% for assay, refining, and margin, so the cash offer lands just under that figure. Stones and complex settings are usually excluded from the metal weight.

Live calculators: gold karat × weight · item × karat estimates · per-gram hub.

How to check it yourself

  1. Examine the stamp under a 10× loupe — genuine marks are crisp and evenly struck, not doubled or smeared.
  2. Confirm the mark reads 9K or an equivalent such as K9.
  3. Weigh the piece and estimate its volume — the density should land near 11.2 g/cm³ for this alloy.
  4. Photograph it in the Jewelry Identifier app to read the metal, hallmark, and any gemstones from the image.
  5. For a binding result, have an assay office or gemological lab run an XRF purity test.

Sources

  • ISO 9202
  • Trade hallmark references

* Frequently asked

FAQ

Q. Is 9K the same as K9?
A. Yes. 9K, K9, 375 all denote the same material — 37.5% gold. Different markets and eras stamp it differently, but the purity is identical.
Q. How much is 9K worth?
A. Its melt value is the gold spot price × 0.375 × the weight in grams. Buyers then deduct roughly 5–15% for refining and margin, so a quoted buy-back price sits a little below that theoretical figure.
Q. How do I confirm a 9K stamp is genuine?
A. Look at the mark under 10× magnification for crisp, even strikes, cross-check the weight-to-volume ratio against the expected density (11.2 g/cm³ for this alloy), scan it with the Jewelry Identifier app, and — when it matters — have an XRF test done by an assay office or gemological lab.

* Try it

Identify the jewelry in your hand, right now.

Just take a photo — AI reads the metal, gemstone, hallmark, era, and an estimated value range in seconds. First two scans free, no account required.

* Related

Keep exploring