How to recognize real gold: hallmarks and purity
On almost every piece of gold jewelry there's a tiny mark stamped somewhere — a hallmark. These marks aren't decoration but the piece's "ID card": they tell how much gold it contains and often who made it. Let's learn to read them.
What the karat mark tells you
The most common gold hallmarks indicate purity in thousandths or karats:
| Mark | Karat | Pure gold content |
|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24K | 99.9% |
| 916 | 22K | 91.6% |
| 750 | 18K | 75.0% |
| 585 | 14K | 58.5% |
| 375 | 9K | 37.5% |
So the mark "750" means 18-karat gold. It's the same information, just written in thousandths instead of karats.
Where to look for the hallmark
- Ring: on the inner side of the band
- Necklace / bracelet: on the clasp or a tag beside it
- Earrings: on the back or the hook
- Pendant: by the bail
The mark is small — you often need a loupe or a magnified photo.
Other marks
Besides the karat mark you may find:
- Maker's mark (a registered workshop mark)
- Assay office mark (an official control mark — depending on the country)
- Color/alloy designation (e.g. a mark for white gold or palladium)
How to verify authenticity
1. Find the hallmark — absence isn't necessarily a sign of a fake, but with quality jewelry we expect it
2. Magnet test — gold is not magnetic; if jewelry attracts a magnet, the core isn't gold
3. Professional test — a jeweler can precisely determine purity with a device or acid test
4. Certificate — for more expensive pieces, documentation is the best assurance
Note: gold plating vs. solid gold
- Solid gold: the piece is gold alloy all the way through
- Gold plated: a thin layer of gold over another metal — the mark is often "GP", "GF" (gold filled) or "vermeil"
Plating fades over time; solid gold retains value. The hallmark tells you what you're buying.
Why the hallmark matters for resale and insurance
A clear hallmark makes valuation, insurance and possible resale easier. Without a hallmark, any valuation is harder and more expensive.
With us
Each of our gold pieces is properly hallmarked and comes with documentation about the material. If you inherit a piece and want to know what it is, we're happy to examine it.
What's next?
---
Author: Kraguljevich Jewelry · Buyer's guide