What does 417 mean on jewelry?

What the mark tells you

The lowest purity that can legally be sold as "gold" in the United States. Very common in American mass-market jewelry.

You may also see it written as 10k, 10kt, .417. They all mean the same thing.

What 417 is worth by weight, today

A piece stamped 417 is 41.7% gold, so at today's spot price the metal in it is worth $51.97 per gram. A buyer will offer 70–90% of that — they carry the refining cost and take a margin — and anything below about 60% is a poor offer.

Weigh the piece without stones if you can. A typical ring is 3–6 g, a 45 cm chain 8–15 g, a bangle 15–30 g. Stones, solder and springs add weight that is not gold.

Is it worth anything?

Solid gold. Durable and cheap — often used for class rings and chain.

Marks often confused with 417

Where to find it

On a ring the mark is almost always inside the band. On a chain or bracelet look at the clasp or the tag beside it; on earrings check the post or the back. Marks are tiny and often worn — a phone camera zoomed all the way in usually reads one better than your eye does.

A stamp is evidence, not proof

Marks wear down, are struck only partially, and are occasionally forged outright. If a piece is valuable enough to matter, have the metal tested rather than relying on the stamp alone. Equally, an absent stamp does not always mean an absent metal: older and handmade jewelry is frequently unmarked.