What Does 500 Mean on Gold?
500 on gold means it is 50.0% pure gold — 12 karat gold. It is the lowest gold standard the UAE allows, and the karat often used for the layer of gold-filled jewellery, where it does not mean the piece is solid gold. Today 1 gram of 500 gold contains $62.32 of gold (₹5,939), Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC.
500 gold value today
| 10 g | $623 |
|---|---|
| 1 tola (11.66 g) | $727 |
| 1 troy oz (31.1 g) | $1,938 |
| 8 g (sovereign / pavan) | $499 |
Where you'll see 500
- The lowest permitted gold standard in the UAE
- The gold layer of some gold-filled pieces ("1/20 12K GF")
Also stamped: 12K, 12KT.
Compared with its neighbours: 585 (14K) has 8.5 percentage points more gold, $72.91 per gram. 417 (10K) has 8.3 percentage points less gold, $51.97 per gram.
Gold purity marks and what 1 gram is worth today
| Mark | Karat | Gold content | Gold in 1 g today | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 999.9 | 24K | 99.99% | $124.63 | Investment bars from 1 g to 1 kg |
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% | $124.51 | Gold bars and coins |
| 995 | 24K | 99.5% | $124.02 | Large bars traded between banks (the London Good Delivery minimum is 99.5%) |
| 990 | 24K | 99.0% | $123.39 | Chinese and Hong Kong jewellery marked 足金 ("full gold"), which must be at least 99.0% gold |
| 958 | 23K | 95.8% | $119.40 | Indian jewellery hallmarked "23K958" by BIS |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% | $114.17 | Most jewellery in India, Pakistan, the Gulf, Singapore and Malaysia |
| 875 | 21K | 87.5% | $109.06 | The most popular jewellery gold in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and much of the Middle East |
| 833 | 20K | 83.3% | $103.82 | Indian jewellery hallmarked "20K833" by BIS |
| 750 | 18K | 75.0% | $93.48 | Fine jewellery worldwide, especially diamond and gem-set pieces |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% | $72.91 | Most jewellery sold in the US, Canada, Russia and much of Europe |
| 500 | 12K | 50.0% | $62.32 | The lowest permitted gold standard in the UAE |
| 417 | 10K | 41.7% | $51.97 | Budget jewellery and class rings in the US and Canada |
| 375 | 9K | 37.5% | $46.74 | The UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada |
| 333 | 8K | 33.3% | $41.50 | Germany and parts of Central Europe, mostly older and inexpensive jewellery |
500 Gold: FAQ
What does 500 mean on gold?
It is the fineness, in parts per thousand of pure gold: 500 means 50.0% of the metal is gold, which is 12K. It is the lowest gold standard the UAE allows, and the karat often used for the layer of gold-filled jewellery, where it does not mean the piece is solid gold.
How much is 500 gold worth per gram today?
About $62.32 of gold per gram (₹5,939; ₹59,386 per 10 g), Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC, at the international price. A shop adds making charges and taxes when you buy; a buyer deducts a margin when you sell. Switch the currency in the table on this page.
Is "12K GF" the same as 12K gold?
No. "1/20 12K GF" means gold-filled: a layer of 12K gold making up 1/20 of the weight, bonded to a base metal. The whole piece contains only about 2.5% gold.
Is 500 gold hallmarked?
The number alone is a purity mark, which in some countries the maker stamps and in others an assay office does. A full hallmark adds an independent mark: in India the BIS logo and a six-digit HUID, in the UK an assay office mark and the sponsor's mark. See hallmark rules by country.
Related
Gold values use the live international price (Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC). A stamp is the maker's or assay office's claim; only a test (XRF or fire assay) shows what a piece contains. Hallmarking rules by country: how to check gold purity.