STAMPED GOLD LAYER · GOLD CONTENT
0.291667 gTheoretical fine gold before wear and refining losses
Gold content = net metal weight × stamped layer fraction × layer karat ÷ 24. The base metal is excluded from the gold value.
YOUR METAL WEIGHT
0.292 g fine gold
The value above prices the nominal gold layer. Recovery and payment can be lower.
Gold filled vs rolled gold plate
Both use mechanically applied gold alloy. The US FTC Jewelry Guides give examples using a layer of at least 10K: gold filled at a minimum 1/20 of the article’s metal weight, and rolled gold plate or gold overlay at a minimum 1/40. RGP may also state its actual fraction immediately before the karat designation. Read the full stamp and documentation rather than assigning a fraction from the letters alone.
A 1/20 fraction describes the gold-alloy layer, not pure gold. For a 10 g metal item marked 1/20 14K, the nominal layer weighs 0.5 g and contains 0.291667 g fine gold. A 1/40 layer of the same karat and item weight gives half as much.
Coating terms and weight ratios: FTC Jewelry Guides, 16 CFR 23.3.
Theoretical gold vs a recovery offer
The stamped fraction describes construction when made. Wear, excluded fittings, sampling and refining losses can change the gold recovered. Ask a refiner which weight the offer covers, how it determines gold content and which refining or minimum-lot fees apply. Enter the actual offer and fees above to compare the net payment with theoretical gold value.
Gold plate and vermeil use different construction information. A thickness alone does not give gold weight without coated area and composition; do not substitute the 1/20 example for an unmarked coating.