Symbols with 900 indicate that there are 900 parts per 1,000 pure platinum; whereas symbols with 950 indicate that there are 950 parts per 1,000 are pure platinum. 10K, 14K, 18K, 24K... If you only see these stamps on your piece, it means that the piece is solid gold. The numbers denote the karat fineness of the gold.
Inspect the Hallmark
There are also hallmarks that can identify where the item was made (called a makers mark), the office the metal was tested in, the year, and the designer. You can find these hallmarks in a variety of places. Common locations are in the inside of a ring or a tag by the clasp of a necklace.
If you see a karat marking like K or k, usually accompanied by a number, the item is made of white gold.
583 or 585, 14k gold, this is 14 parts gold and 10 parts stabilizing metal, about 58.3% gold. 75, 18k gold, this is 18 parts gold and 6 parts stabilizing metal, about 75% gold. 916 or 917, 22k gold, this is 22 parts gold and 2 parts stabilizing metal, about 91.7% gold. 999, 24k gold, this is pure gold.
Most other letter markings indicate that a piece is gold-plated or gold-filled. Gold-plated pieces may be marked 'GP,' 'GE,' or 'HGE. ' 'GP' or 'GE' means the piece is electroplated with a thin layer of gold; '18K GP' would indicate a piece plated with 18 karat gold.
Look for Stamps or Hallmarks in Your Gold Jewelry
Most real gold is stamped with a hallmark that indicates its purity, aka its karat. The karat is the unit used to measure the purity of gold. The higher the karat, the purer the gold. The most common karats you'll see are 10k, 14k, 18k, 22K, and 24k.
Some rings show the letter D to say that it has diamonds. If the jewelry has a CZ mark, this is the equivalent of cubic zirconia.
Gold plated jewelry is often stamped with initials that reveal its metal composition. Here are some common markings that you may find in an inconspicuous location on your jewelry. If your jewelry does not bear any of these markings, it may be solid gold, but don't jump to a quick conclusion.
Gold Purity Marks
Purity marks on gold jewelry will consist of a two-digit number followed by the letter “k,” or a three-digit number. The letter “k” refers to karats, where pure gold is composed of 24 karats (24k).
Here are some of the most common jewelry hallmarks: Karat (KT or K) - Indicates the purity of gold, the higher the karat number, the purer the gold. Fine Silver (FS) - Indicates that a piece consists of at least 99.9% pure silver. Sterling Silver (SS) - Indicates that a piece consists of at least 92.5% pure silver.
We recommend taking the piece to a jeweler to be tested. They will have professional tests that will determine whether your jewelry is real as well as the purity of the metal itself. A certified appraiser will be able to provide the value of the piece as well.
Look at the Hallmarks – Jewelry hallmarks are markings on the post, band, or clasp that indicate the piece's country of origin or its metal content. If the piece doesn't have a hallmark, it's either because it's too old, as hallmarks weren't used before 100 years ago, or it's not made from a precious metal.
The name "Mitsubishi" refers to the three-diamond emblem. "Mitsubishi" is a combination of the words mitsu and hishi. Mitsu means three.
Platinum jewelry should be stamped “PT” for pure platinum or “PT900” or “PT950,” indicating the number of parts per thousand that are pure platinum.
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs website, hallmark consists of 3 symbols which give you some information. In this, the first symbol is the BIS logo, the second symbol indicates purity and fineness and the third symbol is the HUID. Gold hallmarking was made mandatory by the government last year.
What to do: Hold the magnet up to the gold. If it's real gold it will not stick to the magnet. (Fun fact: Real gold is not magnetic.) Fake gold, on the other hand, will stick to the magnet.
Here are a few stamps or markings that you may see on your jewelry: A Number Followed by a K: If you see a 14K, 18K, or 24K on the inside of your ring or on the clasp of your jewelry and no other markings, chances are your jewelry is solid gold. GP: This stands for Gold Plating.
During the test, you will need to make a tiny scratch in the metal, apply a drop of acid to it and look for a reaction. Real gold does not react when it comes in contact with nitric acid. If the jewellery is gold plated, the acid produces a green reaction.
By law, gold jewelry sold by a vendor must have a stamp of the piece's purity, so finding a stamp is a good sign! If you can't find a stamp, it's possible it wore off with time, or was sold before the law was passed. Don't worry if there is no stamp to be found, you can always consult an expert!
Google Lens image recognition software allows you to identify and learn about most things you come across in your daily life: buildings, gadgets, cars, articles of clothing, plants, animal breeds, jewelry, and even artwork.
Does gold plated jewellery has a hallmark? Gold plated jewellery is not legally hallmarked. But real gold jewellery starting at 9ct, and weighing more than 1 gram, should legally be hallmarked.