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.
What about a backward facing G and forward facing G back to back and both clasps say 18k
I have a antique vase made of some kind of metal. It was a gift from the American consulate in 1945. It’s stamped 0900 with some other words?
What’s does Air solid mean. It’s engraved on my 14k Gold Ralphe Lauren bracelet?
I have a diamond solitaire in an enhancer. Both are stamped “14k”. But the solitaire has an additional stamp of “1/3”. I have scoured the internet to find out the meaning of the “1/3”. I have found nothing. Any ideas?
Hi Suella! 1/3 may refer to a stated one-third-carat diamond weight, but that interpretation is not certain from the stamp alone. The 14K mark refers to the stated gold purity, not diamond authenticity. Have a jeweler examine the stone and any original paperwork before relying on a weight or value. Our appraisal service is here: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/jewelry-appraisal/.
I found a pair of gold earrings, on the inside of the hoop it has a … | S .. on both earrings. Does this have any significance that you know of?
I have a 14kt necklace that’s stamped LXG what does that mean?
Hi I have an old tie clip and it has a 50 stamped into the back of it. There’s no jewels on this clip.
What does this mean
I have a diamond gold earring with what looks like ’14 RE 4 36′
I bought a yellow gold ring which has a stamp PALPLA what does that mean
What does s21k mean stamped on my chain
Hi George! If the mark genuinely reads 21K, it indicates a stated gold content of 87.5%. The S is separate and does not let us identify the maker from text alone. A worn or misread stamp can change the interpretation, so testing is advisable if you need to establish the metal content. You can see the relevant service here: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/metal-testing/.
What dose it mean when your charm is stamped NR14k
Hi Bobby! 14K is a stated gold-purity mark, equivalent to about 58.3% gold. NR is a separate mark, and we cannot identify its maker from those initials alone. If you need to confirm the metal rather than the maker, you can review our testing options here: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/metal-testing/.
I have earrings that have “S.R. 14K” stamped into the inner ring part. Anybody know what the S.R means?
Hi! I have a gold ring with a red stone the stamped:
GFAB (then crown symbol ) 18K A10.
What does that mean?
Hi Ghada! 18K indicates a stated gold content of 75%. The crown, GFAB, and A10 need to be interpreted together; we would not identify a maker or the red stone from that description alone. If verifying the metal is your goal, our testing service is here: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/metal-testing/.
What does op mean in gold ?
I have a white gold ring with diamonds charm that has MW3 15 marked on the bottom. Does anybody know what this means. Thank you in advance for the answer.
Hi, I’m not sure if this forum is still active. I have a vermeil pair of stud earrings with a gem that is hallmarked 925, C7, I know the 7 is meant to be a 7 because it is clearly marked on both. I’m wondering if anyone has come across this marking.
Hi Yolanda! 925 normally refers to sterling silver. C7 is not a universal purity mark, and we cannot reliably identify its maker or meaning from the characters alone. A clear close-up of the mark and the whole earring would be needed. Our guide explains the distinction between metal and maker marks: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/articles/jewelry-stamps-what-do-they-really-mean/.
Hi,
I have a family ring that was made from 2 gold ring melted to make one. There is a 14k and a 10k stamps. Does it refer to the previous 2 rings?
Thanks!
Hi Emma! Those stamps may relate to the original rings, but they do not establish the purity of the finished piece. When different gold alloys are combined, the final composition depends on their amounts and any metal added. Testing is the way to check rather than assuming either old stamp still applies. You can see the relevant service here: https://quickjewelryrepairs.com/repair/metal-testing/.
I have a earring that has a D with a circle around it but no other mark, what does this mean
What does J.S.G. stand for in a gold ring? Is it real or fake,?
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