What Do Gold Jewelry Numbers Mean?

Gold jewelry often bears a number stamped on it that identifies its purity or fineness. This is called a karat mark, and it is usually found in a small and difficult-to-see portion of the piece, such as on the inside of a ring or on a tag by the clasp of a necklace. It can also be found on silver jewelry, although the standard for marking these pieces is less precise than for gold. Regardless, if you see this number, it is helpful to know what it means.

Typically, a karat mark is followed by either a decimal number representing parts per thousand (e.g. 0.916) or by a figure that indicates the percentage of pure gold in the piece (e.g. 24). Occasionally, both of these figures are present.

In Europe, jewelry may be marked with the symbol 375, which refers to 9 karat gold. This means that out of a total of 24 parts, 9 are pure gold and the rest is alloy metals. Jewelry made with this type of gold is softer and has less color than higher-karat gold.

The United States, on the other hand, requires that all gold jewelry be stamped with a minimum of 10 karats. This is why it is rare to find a piece of jewelry with this stamp in the United States. However, it is a very common mark in British Commonwealth countries.

Many gold jewelry items will also have a fineness mark, which will appear in a similar manner to the karat marks. In addition to indicating the fineness of the piece, this mark will usually indicate where it was tested and how it was hallmarked. This is important information to have, as it can help identify the manufacturer or designer of a piece of jewelry and can even lead to a website where you can purchase similar jewelry from the same designer.

In addition to karat and fineness marks, you may see other symbols on gold jewelry. The most common of these is the ‘plumb’ mark, which refers to the proportion of pure gold in a piece of jewelry. This is commonly seen on older pieces of American jewelry and consists of a three-number stamp (e.g. 417, 750 or 585).

Another common mark is HGE, which stands for heavy gold electroplate. This is an alternative to pure gold and usually has a lower value, although it is still considered a precious metal. Finally, you may see GF on some pieces of jewelry, which is short for golden fill, and again indicates an alloy rather than pure gold. All of these numbers are important to understand if you want to be sure that your gold is authentic and of high quality. However, the most important thing is to enjoy your jewelry! Whether it is a simple bangle or a magnificent heirloom, be proud to show it off. It’s truly an enduring treasure. And if you ever have any questions about your fine jewelry, contact us! We’re always happy to help.