Understanding Gold Jewelry Marking
What does this jewelry stamp mean? Jewelry stamp is one of the most common questions from people interested in buying a piece of gold jewelry. So what do jewelry stamps mean?
You'll notice that every item in your jewelry collection has markings on it. These markings indicate essential information about your piece, so it's helpful to understand what they mean. From metal content to the manufacturer, your jewelry markings can give you a clue about the value and history of your favorite pieces.
What does a 925 mark mean when stamped on jewelry?
The 925 stamp indicates that the piece of jewelry you're holding has created with sterling silver. Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% actual silver, with the rest of the metal made up of base metals like copper. The reason behind this alloy is that it's much more complex than the 99.9% required for "fine" silver, which makes it better for practical objects. Jewelry can also benefit, particularly rings and bracelets, which are more often exposed to dented or scratched than pendants or earrings. The vast majority of sterling silver contains copper as the alloying material. Still, in most cases, the 925 stamp indicates that you hold 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper by weight. For silver to be classified as sterling silver, it must meet at least a 92.5 purity, AKA 925. So, as you can see: 925 silver is the same as sterling silver. Sterling silver allows for easy working while maintaining the majority white shine that typifies the precious metal.
What does the 10k stamp mean?
10K gold contains 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy, which means it has more alloy than gold and therefore is a less expensive option. Pure gold is a soft metal that tends to bend and scratch very quickly, so since 10K gold has the most alloy, it's more durable (less delicate) than 14K gold.
What does the 14k stamp mean?
Karat is a measure of gold purity, with 24 karats being the highest possible value, indicating that a piece is 99.99% gold. For example, a "14K" stamp means that the part is 14 karats, and a "10Kt" stamp indicates that the item is ten karats
What does the 18k stamp mean?
75% or 18 parts per 24 pure gold mixed with silver, copper, and nickel elements.
What does the 24k stamp mean?
100% or 24 parts per 24 pure gold. This means no additives. While this is pure gold, it is also very soft and tends to bend and scratch relatively easily. This is one of the reasons it is rare to find jewelry that is pure gold.
Understanding Karats
Karat is usually stamped k, K, or KT and is different from Carat. Carat is for measuring the weight of gems and not metals. The number of karats refers to the portion of the piece that is pure gold, with 100% pure gold being 24 karats. This means that a 14-karat part would be 58.3% pure gold since 14 divided by 24 is .583. The remaining 41.7% of the piece is composed of other metals, like copper, nickel, silver, or palladium. Understanding karats is key to deciphering the purity and value of your gold.
Purity Stamps
Hallmark Stamps
