Many of us have seen the small numbers or letters engraved inside a ring band or near the clasp of a piece of jewelry that we own. But how many of us understand what information those stamps are actually giving us?
In this post, we’ll walk through the different stamps, what they mean, and what you need to know about stamping laws to ensure you’re getting the most accurate information about your jewelry. Let’s start with the basics:
- 10K, 14K, 18K, 24K, etc – if this is the ONLY stamp on the piece, it is telling you first and foremost that the piece is solid gold and secondly, the karat fineness of the gold. For example, let’s look at 14K. 14 out of 24 particles in the metal are pure gold. The others can be a mix of elements including palladium, copper, etc. These additional elements are what determine the specific color of the gold (we’ll talk about this in an upcoming post).
750 stamp on jewelry means 18k Gold - 417, 585, or 750 – this is just another way of telling us the gold content. However, instead of referring to how many parts out of 24 are pure gold, this number is now out of 1,000. So for 10K gold jewelry, 417 out of 1,000 parts are pure gold. For 14K gold jewelry, 585 parts out of 1,000 are pure gold. So when you see 750 that means 18K gold jewelry because the metal is made of 750 parts per 1,000 of pure gold.
- 900, 900PT, PT900, 950, 950PT, PT950 – all of these stamps designate that the piece is made of one of the two most common platinum alloys. 900, 900PT, or PT 900 all signify that the metal used is 900 parts per 1,000 pure platinum, while 950, 950PT, and PT950 denote 950 parts per 1,000 are pure platinum.
- 925 – a piece with this stamp is made of sterling silver. Legally, to be considered sterling silver a piece has to consist of 92.5% pure silver, with only 7.5% other elements mixed in.
- GP – pieces with this stamp have been plated with gold, but have another metal underneath. It almost always has the karat fineness of the plating listed, i.e. 18K GP.
- HGE – this is the abbreviation for high grade electroplate, which is another way of denoting that the jewelry you are looking at is not solid gold. These pieces also generally display the karat fineness of the gold.
- GF – this stands for gold-filled, which is a term that means a thin layer of gold was bonded to a base metal to make this piece.
So now that we have the basic stamp meanings down, let’s go through some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear from customers:
There’s another symbol next to the metal content stamp that isn’t on your list. What does that mean?
Most likely, the stamp you are seeing here is the manufacturer’s trademark or the trademark of the retailer selling the piece. This is legally required if the item is stamped and serves as a guarantee of sorts that the manufacturer/retailer vouches for the accuracy of the stamp on the metal.
My jewelry piece isn’t stamped at all. Does this mean it’s not made of precious metal?
Not necessarily. The legal guidelines on stamping don’t require all pieces made of precious metal to be stamped. However, they do require the manufacturer or retailer to disclose any precious metal content. This could be via discussion in the store upon purchase, on a tag attached to the piece, or on the receipt for the product itself.
The clasp/closure/earring backs on my piece are stamped, but the rest of the item is not. Does that mean the whole thing is made of precious metal?
Again, not necessarily. Sometimes the clasp of a piece is made of a different metal than the chain, so definitely confirm with the store clerk or jeweler that the entire item is made of the metal from the stamping. Likewise, earring backs may have been accidentally swapped and may not be made of the same metal as the rest of the earrings, especially the posts, so double checking is always best.
My piece has a name/date engraved on it. Is this the designer or year that the piece was made?
For well-known brands and designers, this can be the case, but it isn’t necessarily a correct assumption. For example, Tiffany & Co. has several Paloma Picasso designs that would be engraved as such and may include the date. However, it could also be that the piece is vintage or estate and was engraved with the previous owner’s name, anniversary, etc.
What other questions do you have about jewelry stamp meanings?
Community Discussion
Questions, experiences, and expert answers from the QJR community.
Hello, I have a gold ring with stones. What are this marks inside of it ?
The marks inside your ring provide key details about its origin and composition. The “S.G” is likely the maker’s mark, identifying the jeweler or company. The “375” indicates that the ring is made of 9-karat gold, meaning it’s 37.5% pure gold, which is common in the UK and Europe. The other symbols likely represent a hallmark from an assay office verifying the gold content, and possibly a date letter indicating when the piece was made. For exact details, especially regarding the symbols, our appraisal service can definitely help!
What does PAT. AC10 on the inside of an old braclet stand for. Please and thank you
“PAT. AC10” likely refers to a patent number or code related to the design or mechanism of the bracelet. “PAT” stands for “patent,” and the following letters and numbers could indicate the specific patent or design registration for that piece. To get more details, you may look into our appraisal service!
Can anyone help me identify this marking.
Hi Shifa, thank you so much for commenting! I reached out via email to help you with your ring 🙂
This is all so interesting. My daughter inherited a necklace and bracelet that look similar and may be a set. The marks are: lower t & c, 10k. Could you help identify this for us, thank you
hi there I’ve got this ring and I need some help with the hallmark please, I think it is t.d ? What does it mean? What is it worth?
I’m attaching a photo, my email is [email protected] thank you
Hi Maria, thank you so much for commenting on our post! I reached out via email to help you look into your ring further 🙂
I have a ring stamped 10k and has a heart with the letter D in the middle of the heart, what does that mean?
The “10k” stamp indicates that the ring is made of 10-karat gold. The heart with the letter “D” is most likely a maker’s mark, used to identify the jeweler or manufacturer who crafted the piece. Our jewelry appraisal service can definitely help you look into it more 🙂
Man’s wedding band not sure the star means looks like there might have been something next to it. The other inside of the ring is stamped with the word masterpiece. Looking for time period and or manufacturer.
The star mark could be part of a maker’s mark or hallmark, which sometimes indicates the manufacturer or origin of the piece. “Masterpiece” is often used by certain jewelers to signify a high-quality, handcrafted item, but it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact time period or manufacturer without more details. Our appraisal service can help you identify these details!
Could you tell me what the mark indicates between the 925 and 18K?
The mark between the 925 and 18K typically indicates the maker’s mark or a hallmark from the manufacturer. It helps identify the origin or authenticity of the piece. If you’d like, feel free to share an image via our website, and I can help you look into it further!
So I have a silver ring with 925 stamped on it and then what looks like an a precious stone
Hi Cheri! Thanks for commenting. The “925” stamp means your ring is made of sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver. The stone could be precious or semi-precious; a jeweler can help identify it for you or we can help you with our appraisal service 🙂
I have a ring that has 9841 on it. What does it mean?
The stamp “9841” on a ring does not correspond to a typical hallmark for precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum. It is more likely a manufacturer or model number, used to identify a specific design or production batch for the jeweler or brand that made the ring. If you’re looking for information about the material, you should also check for standard purity stamps like “925” for sterling silver or “750” for 18K gold.
I have a chain that’s stamped with 128 and EZI. I’m showing that’s real. Is that correct?
Hi Tina! Yes, “128” and “EZI” likely refer to manufacturer marks, but they don’t confirm metal authenticity. You may want to have the chain tested to verify if it’s real. Hope this helps 🙂
What does NVC 10 mean on a ring?
Thank you for your question! “NVC 10” on a ring typically refers to the manufacturer’s mark or the brand’s identification. The “10” likely represents the ring’s gold purity, indicating that it is made of 10-karat gold. Hope this helps 🙂
I have a ring of my father’s that has 10k 02 on it. What is the 02?
The “10K” on your father’s ring indicates that it is made of 10-karat gold, which means it contains 41.7% pure gold. The “02” is likely a manufacturer’s stamp, a style number, or a code that refers to the year the ring was made (possibly 2002), or it could be a reference to a specific design or production batch. This type of marking is common in jewelry to help track manufacturing details but doesn’t affect the gold content. If you’re curious about its exact meaning, you may want to try our appraisal service! 🙂
I have a Ring that has 14KK stamped inside the band and I was just wondering why it has 2Ks after the number of 14 instead of just one K after the number of 14 like I have usually seen in the past on other rings and jewelry?
The “14KK” stamp inside your ring likely indicates that the ring is made of 14-karat gold, with the second “K” potentially standing for Karat again, though this is less common. The extra “K” could be a manufacturer’s mark or a variation in stamping practices from a specific jeweler or country. Some manufacturers use redundant markings for stylistic or regional reasons, but it doesn’t affect the gold content, which remains 14-karat. If you’re unsure, and would like to know more, you may want to try our appraisal service! 🙂
I have an old ring that I believe is a Jobs daughter’s rings with a 10k stamp but next to that is stamped either an eye or a ovalish circle with a raised center. Can you tell me anything please?
Hi Deb, thank you so much for commenting on our post! The “10k” stamp means the ring is 10-karat gold. The eye or oval symbol is likely the maker’s mark or a design related to Jobs Daughters. For more information, you may want to check our jewelry appraisal service! – https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/
My mum has a necklace with PL 18kt is it worth anything. It’s v heavy
The “PL 18kt” likely means the necklace is platinum and 18-karat gold. Both metals are valuable, and the weight suggests it could be worth a lot. If you want to know more about its value or origin you may want to check out our jewelry appraisal service – https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/
What could you tell me about this bracelet please
It’s stamped 18KGP but doesn’t attract to a magnet
The “18KGP” stamp means the bracelet is 18-karat gold-plated, with a thin layer of gold over a non-magnetic base metal, like brass or copper. Its lack of attraction to a magnet is normal for such metals. The green beads may be semi-precious stones like jade. For more details on the materials, you may want to check out our jewelry appraisal service! – https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/
I have a ring that has 14k and sl on the inside what does that mean
The “14k” stamp on your ring indicates that it is made of 14 karat gold, which means it contains 58.3% pure gold mixed with other metals for added strength.
The “SL” stamp is likely a manufacturer’s or designer’s mark, identifying the company or individual who made the ring. Jewelry stamps like these are often unique to specific brands or makers. If you’re curious about the exact origin of the “SL” mark, you may want to check our jewelry appraisal services – https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/
Hi I’ve got a 23k gold ring that also has PEE stamped on it. Does anyone know what this means?
The “PEE” stamp on your 23k gold ring likely refers to the manufacturer’s or designer’s mark, which is common in jewelry to indicate the maker or brand rather than the metal quality. It could be an abbreviation or initials of a specific jeweler or company. The 23k indicates the gold purity, which is 96.5% pure gold. If you’re curious about the exact origin of the “PEE” stamp, it might be more helpful to avail our jewelry appraisal service – https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/
I have a gold rope chain that was my mother’s. The only stamp I can find on it is either an idly shaped M or W, depending on how you’re looking at it. It could be costume jewelry, but my mother had several 14K necklaces as well. Any help is appreciated!
The stamp on the necklace charm appears to be an “M” or “W,” but without further information or additional stamps like a gold purity mark (e.g., 14K, 10K), it’s difficult to determine whether it’s real gold or costume jewelry. If it lacks a typical gold hallmark, it could suggest that it’s costume jewelry. However, having it tested by a jeweler is the best way to confirm its material and authenticity. You may want to check out our appraisal service if you want to know more about your piece! – https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/
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