What do marking on jewelry mean?

Markings on jewelry can indicate a variety of information about the piece, including its metal content, country of origin, manufacturer, and quality. Here are some common markings and their meanings:

Metal Content:

- karat (K): This indicates the purity of gold. For example, 14K gold means the piece contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals.

- fineness: This is another way to indicate gold purity. A fineness of 999 means pure gold, while a fineness of 750 means the piece contains 75% gold and 25% other metals.

- Sterling Silver: This marking indicates the piece is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals.

- Stainless Steel: This marking indicates the piece is made of stainless steel, which is an alloy of iron, chromium, and other metals.

Country of Origin:

- Made in USA, Made in France, etc.: This indicates the country where the piece was manufactured.

Manufacturer:

- Hallmark: This is a unique mark or symbol used by a jewelry manufacturer to identify their products.

Quality:

- Assay Marks: These marks are applied by an independent assay office to certify the metal content of the piece.

925: This quality mark indicates that the jewelry has a minimum silver content of 92.5%.

Additional Markings:

- .925 or 925 (for sterling silver): This indicates that the piece is made of sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver.

- 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K (for gold): These indicate the karat of gold used in the piece. The higher the karat number, the higher the gold content.

- PLAT, PLATINUM, PT (for platinum): These indicate that the piece is made of platinum.

- GF, GP (for gold-filled): These indicate that the piece is made of a base metal with a layer of gold bonded to it.

- Plated (for gold-plated): This indicates that the piece is made of a base metal with a thin layer of gold applied to it.

These are just a few examples of the many markings that can be found on jewelry. If you have a piece of jewelry with a marking that you don't recognize, you can always ask a professional jeweler for assistance.