We are often asked "Is my jewelry real?" or I just bought this from a guy at the casino, is it real?
The stamps you see on jewelry help you to determine it's purity, value how and where is was made and even who made the item. Jewelry can have copywrite stamps, patent stamps and all kinds of trademarks. However, you want to know if it is real gold.
Do you know what 14KP means? Even people who have sold jewelry for years often mistake this mark to mean gold plated. The P stands for 'plumb,' which means the gold content meets the full stated karat. 14K gold is 58.3% pure gold and is often stamped 585. It also means it was made in the USA or for the USA market.
With gold, platinum, silver and other metals at record high prices we unfortunately, all need to aware of counterfeit or misrepresented stamps on jewelry.
There are a couple of tests that can be done to determine if an item is a) gold and B) it's purity. A test can be wrong and results depend a lot on the skill of the person doing the test. We have Master goldsmiths and Graduate Gemologists who are experts in the field of gold.
Clues to a gold plated item are:
A greenish film or discoloration around worn areas on a piece of jewelry.
Anytime you see a fraction stamp such as 1/10, 1/12, 1/20 it indicates this is the thickness of the plating over a base metal that is not gold.
EP means it is a gold electroplating over a base metal that is not gold.
If an item has a copywrite, a letter c inside a circle, or a trademark it will have a better chance of being the karat of gold it is stamped with unless it is a counterfeit piece. It is best to have the jewelry tested if you did not purchase it from the brand retail location.
If the price on an item is too good to be true, it is too good to be true! It is not gold!
If you have any questions about any gold you own, have purchased online, or at a gas station, come to Warren Jewelers and we will be happy to test the item for you.
Common stamps:
10K or 417= gold
14K or 585= gold
18K or 750= gold
925 for Sterling Silver
Plat for Platinum
Frequently Asked Questions
What do gold karat stamps mean?
The stamp shows purity. 10K (417) is 41.7 percent gold, 14K (585) is 58.3 percent gold, and 18K (750) is 75 percent gold.
What do GF and GP mean on jewelry?
GF means gold-filled and GP means gold-plated. Both have a gold layer over a base metal and are not solid gold.
How can I find out if my jewelry is real gold?
A jeweler can test it with acid or electronic testing. Warren Jewelers in Burlington, WA can test gold and also buys gold jewelry.