Jewelry stamps and quality marks: how to read them
What counts as a quality mark, and what should come with it.
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What a quality mark is
Section 23.10 says a quality mark is any letter, figure, numeral, symbol, sign, word, or term stamped, embossed, inscribed, or otherwise placed on a product that indicates or suggests it is made of a precious metal or alloy, or plated with one. The Guides use the term quality mark rather than hallmark.
Words that count
The Guides list "gold", "karat", "carat", "silver", "sterling", "vermeil", "platinum", "iridium", "palladium", "ruthenium", "rhodium", and "osmium", alone or with "filled", "plated", "overlay", or "electroplated".
Marks on part of a piece
Section 23.10(a) says that if a quality mark applies to only part of a product, the listing or marking should show which part, where the mark could otherwise mislead.
Letter size
Section 23.10(b) gives the example of a gold electroplated product marked with "electroplate" in small type and "gold" in larger type, and says that can mislead.
The maker's mark
A note to section 23.10 says the National Stamping Act requires a business that applies a gold or silver quality mark, or imports an article with one, to apply its trademark or name as well. The Act is 15 U.S.C. 297.
More than one metal
Section 23.8 says metals should be listed from greatest to least by weight, with examples such as "14k gold-accented silver" and "900 platinum over silver".
Tolerances
The Act allows the gold tolerances in 15 U.S.C. 295 and the silver tolerances in 15 U.S.C. 296. Our karat gold and sterling silver guides give the figures from the Guides.
FAQ
General information only. We are not a jeweler, appraiser, or gemological lab, and we do not grade, appraise, or verify any stone or metal. Before you buy, read the seller's full description, including whether a diamond is mined or laboratory-grown, any treatment, the metal's karat or fineness, and the weight, and check any grading report with the lab that issued it.
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The karat comes first.
