What does 925 mean on jewelry?

925 means the piece is made of sterling silver — an alloy that is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper). It's the most common silver hallmark worldwide and indicates genuine silver, not plating.

Is gold-plated jewelry hallmarked?

Sometimes, but not consistently. Gold-plated jewelry may carry stamps like GP (gold plated), GEP (gold electroplated), HGE (heavy gold electroplate), or RGP (rolled gold plate). Many inexpensive plated pieces carry no hallmark at all. The absence of a karat stamp (10K, 14K, etc.) is a strong indicator the piece is plated rather than solid gold.

What does GF mean on jewelry?

GF stands for gold filled. Gold-filled jewelry has a thick layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal — typically 5% or more of the total weight is gold. Common stamps include 1/20 14K GF (meaning 1/20th of the weight is 14K gold). Gold filled is significantly more durable than gold plating and can last decades with proper care.

Can a hallmark be faked?

Yes, hallmarks can be counterfeited, though doing so is illegal in most countries. Fake hallmarks tend to appear blurry, unevenly stamped, or too shallow. If you suspect a fake, have the piece tested by a jeweler using acid testing or an XRF analyzer. Buying from reputable retailers and checking for consistent hallmark placement reduces the risk.

What's the difference between 14K and 585?

They mean the same thing. 14K is the karat notation used primarily in the United States, while 585 is the millesimal fineness stamp used in Europe and much of the rest of the world. Both indicate gold that is 58.5% pure. You may see either stamp — or both — depending on where the piece was manufactured.

How to Read Jewelry Hallmarks: A Complete Guide to Metal Stamps

What Are Jewelry Hallmarks?

Hallmarks are small stamps pressed or engraved into jewelry that indicate the metal's purity, the manufacturer, and sometimes the country of origin or assay office that verified the piece. They serve as a consumer guarantee — proof that the metal content matches what the seller claims.

The practice dates back to 14th-century France, where goldsmiths were required to stamp their work to prevent fraud. By the 16th century, most of Europe had adopted hallmarking laws. Today, hallmarking remains legally required in the UK, France, the Netherlands, and several other countries. In the US, karat stamps are governed by FTC guidelines but are not strictly mandatory — though any stamp that is applied must be accurate.

Common Gold Hallmarks

Gold hallmarks use two systems: karat notation (common in the US) and millesimal fineness (common in Europe). Both express the same thing — the proportion of pure gold in the alloy.

Hallmark	Karat	Gold Purity	Notes
375	9K	37.5%	Common in the UK and Australia. Not sold as gold in the US.
417	10K	41.7%	Minimum karat to be legally called "gold" in the US.
585	14K	58.5%	The most popular choice in the US — balances durability and gold content.
750	18K	75%	Standard for fine jewelry in Europe and Asia. Richer color, softer metal.
916	22K	91.6%	Popular in India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Very soft — rarely used for rings.
999	24K	99.9%	Pure gold. Too soft for most jewelry — primarily used in bullion and some Asian markets.

You may also see stamps like 14KT, 14KP (the "P" stands for plumb, meaning exact karat weight), or 14K 585 (both systems on the same piece). All indicate the same gold purity.

Common Silver Hallmarks

Silver hallmarks use millesimal fineness almost universally. The number represents parts per thousand of pure silver.

Hallmark	Name	Silver Purity	Notes
800	Continental silver	80%	Common in European antiques, especially Italian and German pieces.
925	Sterling silver	92.5%	The global standard. By far the most common silver hallmark you'll see.
950	Britannia silver	95%	Higher purity than sterling. Used in some UK and French silver pieces.
999	Fine silver	99.9%	Very soft — used mainly for bullion, coins, and some artisan jewelry.

You may also encounter STER, STG, or STERLING spelled out — all equivalent to the 925 stamp.

What About Gold Vermeil and Plated Jewelry?

Gold vermeil is sterling silver coated with a thick layer of gold (at least 2.5 microns in the US). Because the base metal is sterling silver, vermeil pieces should carry a 925 stamp. If you see 925 on a gold-colored piece, it's likely vermeil — the stamp refers to the silver underneath, not the gold plating on top.

Gold-plated and gold-filled jewelry use different stamps to indicate the type and thickness of the gold layer:

Stamp	Meaning	Durability
GP	Gold Plated — a thin layer of gold applied by electroplating	Low — may wear off within months of daily wear
GEP	Gold Electroplated — same as GP	Low
HGE	Heavy Gold Electroplate — thicker plating (at least 2.5 microns)	Moderate
RGP	Rolled Gold Plate — gold sheet mechanically bonded to base metal	Moderate
GF	Gold Filled — thick gold layer (≥5% of total weight), e.g. 1/20 14K GF	High — can last decades

Many inexpensive gold-plated pieces carry no hallmark at all. The absence of a karat stamp is itself informative — if there's no 10K, 14K, or 18K mark, the piece is almost certainly plated, filled, or costume jewelry. For more on evaluating gold-toned jewelry, see our guide on how to tell if gold vermeil is real.

Where to Find Hallmarks on Jewelry

Hallmarks are placed where they won't affect the piece's appearance. You'll typically need a jeweler's loupe (10x magnification) to read them clearly.

Rings: Inside the band — the most common and easiest to find.
Necklaces and bracelets: On or near the clasp, on the jump ring connecting the clasp, or on a small tag soldered near the closure.
Earrings: On the earring post, back, or on the flat surface of a stud setting.
Pendants: On the bail (the loop that connects the pendant to the chain) or on the back of the pendant itself.
Brooches: On the back, near the pin mechanism.

Hallmarks by Country

Different countries have distinct hallmarking traditions. Here are the systems you're most likely to encounter:

United Kingdom: One of the oldest and most rigorous systems. UK hallmarks include a sponsor's mark (maker), a fineness symbol, an assay office mark (e.g., a leopard's head for London, an anchor for Birmingham), and sometimes a date letter. All gold, silver, platinum, and palladium must be assayed and hallmarked before sale.
France: Uses pictorial hallmarks — an eagle's head for 18K gold, an owl for imported gold, a Minerva head for silver. French hallmarks are small but distinctive once you know what to look for.
Italy: Uses a star mark alongside a numeric code identifying the province and manufacturer. Italian gold is often 18K (750), reflecting the European preference for higher purity.
United States: Uses karat stamps (10K, 14K, 18K) rather than millesimal fineness. The FTC requires any quality mark to be accompanied by a manufacturer's trademark, but hallmarking is not compulsory — it's voluntary and self-regulated.

When Hallmarks Are Missing

A missing hallmark doesn't automatically mean a piece is fake, but it should prompt closer inspection. There are several legitimate reasons a hallmark might be absent:

Very small pieces: Items like thin chains, tiny studs, or delicate pendants may physically lack space for a stamp.
Vintage and antique jewelry: Hallmarks can wear away over decades of use, especially on rings and bracelets.
Handmade or artisan pieces: Independent jewelers may not have access to hallmarking equipment.
US-made jewelry: Since hallmarking isn't mandatory in the US, some domestic manufacturers skip it.

If a hallmark is missing and you're uncertain about the metal content, a jeweler can test the piece using acid testing or an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzer — both are quick, affordable, and non-destructive.