Chinese Precious Metal Mark — What This Hallmark Means

Chinese precious metal marks follow a national standard (GB 11887) that governs how precious metal jewelry must be labeled and stamped in the People's Republic of China. The system uses a combination of Chinese characters, chemical element symbols, and fineness numbers to communicate metal purity. Understanding these marks is increasingly important as China has become the world's largest consumer market for gold jewelry and a major manufacturer of precious metal goods sold internationally.

The most distinctive Chinese gold mark is 足金 (zú jīn), which translates literally to 'full gold' or 'pure gold' and indicates gold of 990 fineness (99.0% pure) or higher. Under the 2016 revision of the national standard, 足金 replaced several older purity designations and became the primary mark for high-purity gold jewelry. Pieces may also show the alphanumeric equivalent: Au990 or Au999. For lower purities, the system uses Au750 (18K), Au585 (14K), and Au375 (9K), combining the gold element symbol with the millesimal fineness.

Platinum marks follow the same pattern: 足铂 (zú bó, meaning 'full platinum') for Pt990 or higher, and Pt950, Pt900, or Pt850 for lower purities. Palladium uses 足钯 (zú bǎ) for Pd990 and Pd950 or Pd500 for lower standards. Silver marks include 足银 (zú yín, 'full silver') for Ag990 or higher, and Ag925 for sterling. Chinese jewelry may also carry the manufacturer's name or trademark, and pieces sold domestically should include a product label with detailed purity and weight information.

On rings, Chinese precious metal marks are stamped on the inner band, often showing both the Chinese characters and the alphanumeric code (e.g., 足金 Au999). On necklaces and bracelets, check the clasp, the tag near the clasp, or engraved plates on the chain. Bangles typically show marks on the inner surface. Earrings have marks on posts or backs.

Chinese jewelry sold domestically is also required to carry a physical label or tag providing the manufacturer's name, the precious metal type and fineness, the total weight, and the product standard number. This tag provides more detailed information than the stamped marks alone. For pieces purchased outside of China, only the stamped marks may be present.

The primary variations in Chinese gold marks reflect the 2016 standard revision. Before 2016, Chinese gold used a tiered system: 千足金 (qiān zú jīn, 'thousand pure gold') for 999 fineness, 足金 for 990 fineness, and numeric marks for lower purities. The 2016 revision eliminated the 千足金 designation and consolidated the top tier under 足金 for all gold at 990 fineness or above. Older pieces marked 千足金 predate this change.

Additional variations include chop marks — traditional Chinese seal-style stamps that may appear alongside modern purity marks on pieces made by traditional goldsmiths. These artisan chops are not standardized and serve as informal maker's marks. Some pieces from Hong Kong and Taiwan follow different conventions, with Hong Kong using a system closer to the British tradition (due to its colonial history) and Taiwan using its own set of standards. Pieces marked 'HK' alongside purity stamps indicate Hong Kong origin.

A common misconception outside China is that 足金 means 24K or 999 pure gold. While 足金 does indicate high-purity gold, it covers any fineness at 990 or above, which includes both 99.0% and 99.9% purities. For the precise fineness, check the accompanying alphanumeric mark (Au990 vs Au999). Another misunderstanding is that Chinese gold marks are unregulated. In fact, the GB 11887 national standard is enforced by market supervision authorities, and non-compliant products can be removed from sale.

Some international buyers are wary of Chinese precious metal stamps due to concerns about counterfeiting. While counterfeits do exist, as they do in every market, jewelry from established Chinese retailers and manufacturers adheres to the national standard. Purchasing from reputable sources and requesting test certificates provides reasonable assurance of purity accuracy.

If you have jewelry with Chinese precious metal marks, the alphanumeric codes (Au750, Pt950, Ag925) follow the same international conventions used globally, making interpretation straightforward. The Chinese character marks (足金, 足铂, 足银) indicate high-purity metals at 990 fineness or above.

For verification, any qualified jeweler can test the metal purity using standard methods such as acid testing, specific gravity measurement, or XRF analysis. If you are purchasing Chinese gold jewelry, particularly in mainland China, request the product label and any test certificates from the retailer. For high-value pieces, independent testing at a certified laboratory provides additional assurance. When reselling Chinese-origin precious metals internationally, be prepared to explain the Chinese marking system to buyers unfamiliar with it.