JEWELRY HALLMARKS
Jewelry hallmarks are small stamps or engravings that indicate metal purity, origin, maker, and date. They appear on rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other precious metal items. Browse our full index below to decode the marks on your jewelry.
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925 Sterling Silver
The 925 stamp indicates sterling silver, meaning the piece is composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper. This is the international standard for sterling silver jewelry.
999 Fine Silver
The 999 stamp indicates fine silver, meaning the piece contains 99.9% pure silver. This is the highest standard of silver purity used in jewelry and bullion.
750 / 18K Gold
The 750 stamp indicates 18-karat gold, meaning the piece contains 75% pure gold. This is one of the most popular and highly regarded gold purities for fine jewelry worldwide.
585 / 14K Gold
The 585 stamp indicates 14-karat gold, meaning the piece contains 58.5% pure gold. This is the most popular gold purity for jewelry in the United States due to its excellent balance of beauty and durability.
375 / 9K Gold
The 375 stamp indicates 9-karat gold, meaning the piece contains 37.5% pure gold. This is the minimum gold purity legally recognized as gold in the UK, Ireland, and several other countries.
916 / 22K Gold
The 916 stamp indicates 22-karat gold, meaning the piece contains 91.6% pure gold. This high-purity gold is especially popular in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian jewelry traditions.
950 Platinum
The 950 stamp indicates that the piece contains 95% pure platinum and 5% other metals. This is the most common purity standard for platinum jewelry worldwide.
900 Platinum
The 900 stamp indicates that the piece contains 90% pure platinum and 10% other metals. This purity is commonly found in vintage and antique platinum jewelry, particularly from the early 20th century.
Palladium 500
The Palladium 500 stamp indicates that the piece contains 50% pure palladium. Palladium is a platinum-group metal that has gained popularity as a lighter, more affordable alternative to platinum for white-toned jewelry.
Gold-Filled (GF)
The GF (Gold-Filled) stamp indicates that the piece has a thick layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal core. Gold-filled jewelry must contain at least 5% gold by weight and is far more durable than gold plating.
Gold-Plated (GP)
The GP (Gold-Plated) stamp indicates that the piece has a thin layer of gold deposited over a base metal through electroplating. Gold plating is the thinnest and most affordable form of gold coating on jewelry.
Vermeil
Vermeil (pronounced "ver-MAY") is gold plating over sterling silver. In the US, vermeil must have a gold layer at least 2.5 microns thick of at least 10K gold over a sterling silver base.
UK Hallmark System
The UK hallmarking system is one of the oldest and most comprehensive consumer protection systems in the world. British hallmarks certify the type and purity of precious metals and are applied by one of four assay offices.
French Eagle Head Hallmark
The eagle head hallmark is the official French assay mark for 18-karat (750) gold. It is one of the most recognizable hallmarks in European jewelry and certifies that the gold has been tested and approved by the French Bureau de Garantie.
Italian Star Mark
The Italian star mark is a five-pointed star used on Italian precious metal jewelry, typically enclosing a number that identifies the manufacturer. It is accompanied by a numeric purity mark such as 750 for gold or 925 for silver.
Turkish Tugra Hallmark
The tugra (tuğra) is the official Turkish hallmark for precious metals, derived from the ornamental calligraphic signature of Ottoman sultans. It certifies that the metal has been tested by the Istanbul or other Turkish assay offices.
Dutch Sword Hallmark
The sword hallmark is the official Dutch assay mark for precious metals, applied by the WaarborgHolland (Netherlands Assay Office). It certifies that the metal has been independently tested and meets the declared purity standard.
Anchor Hallmark (Birmingham)
The anchor is the assay office mark of the Birmingham Assay Office, one of four operating assay offices in the United Kingdom. It indicates that the piece was tested and hallmarked in Birmingham.
Leopard's Head Hallmark (London)
The leopard's head is the assay office mark of the London Assay Office at Goldsmiths' Hall. It is the oldest English hallmark, dating back to 1300, and indicates that the piece was tested in London.
Thistle Hallmark (Edinburgh)
The thistle is the assay office mark of the Edinburgh Assay Office in Scotland. It has been used as a hallmark on Scottish precious metals since 1759 and is a symbol of Scottish national identity.
Indian BIS Hallmark
The BIS hallmark is the official Bureau of Indian Standards certification for gold jewelry in India, mandatory since June 2021. It verifies that the gold has been independently tested and meets the declared purity standard.
Japanese 造幣局 Mint Hallmark
The Japanese Mint (造幣局) hallmark certifies precious metal purity in Japan. The Japan Mint operates a voluntary assay service using a 1000-fineness system with distinctive marks including the 日 symbol and Japanese flag emblem.
UAE / Gulf Gold Hallmark
The UAE gold hallmark certifies gold purity in the United Arab Emirates and broader Gulf region. It includes Arabic script stamps, karat markings, and in Dubai, the DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) certification mark.
Chinese Precious Metal Mark
Chinese precious metal marks use a combination of Chinese characters and alphanumeric codes to indicate metal purity. The 足金 mark indicates pure gold (99% or higher), while Au, Pt, and Pd prefixes followed by fineness numbers are used for gold, platinum, and palladium.
Turkish Hallmark System
The Turkish hallmark system uses a combination of the tugra (Ottoman calligraphic signature), purity numbers, and assay office marks to certify precious metal jewelry. Turkey has one of the oldest continuously operating hallmarking traditions, overseen by the Istanbul and regional assay offices.
Have a piece you want to identify?
Upload photos of hallmarks and get AI-powered analysis.