Real gold items, especially jewelry, are typically marked with symbols indicating their purity and origin. These marks, known as hallmarks, are crucial for verifying the gold content.
Understanding Gold Hallmarks
Hallmarks are small stamps applied to precious metal items by assay offices or manufacturers. They serve as a guarantee of the metal's purity. While hallmarks can include various symbols, a key component is the mark indicating the fineness or purity of the gold alloy.
Common Purity Symbols (Fineness Marks)
Gold purity is measured in carats or by a fineness number, which represents parts per thousand of pure gold in the alloy. The symbols often found stamped on gold refer to this fineness number. Based on common international standards and the provided reference, here are typical symbols and their corresponding carat values:
| Fineness Symbol | Carat Equivalent | Purity (parts per thousand) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24 Carat | 999 | Nearly pure gold |
| 916 | 22 Carat | 916 or 917 | 91.6% or 91.7% gold |
| 750 | 18 Carat | 750 | 75% gold |
| 583 | 14 Carat | 583 or 585 | 58.3% or 58.5% gold |
| 375 | 9 Carat | 375 | 37.5% gold |
The fineness number is typically a three-digit number indicating the proportion of pure gold out of 1000 parts. For instance, 750 means the metal is 750 parts pure gold out of 1000, equivalent to 75% pure gold.
Other Possible Symbols
In addition to the purity mark, a gold item's hallmark might include:
- Maker's Mark: A unique stamp identifying the manufacturer or sponsor of the item.
- Assay Office Mark: A symbol indicating the office where the item was tested and marked.
- Date Letter: A letter code indicating the year the item was hallmarked (common in some countries like the UK).
Locating these symbols on a piece of jewelry often requires a magnifying glass due to their small size. They are commonly found on clasps, the inside of rings, or on flat surfaces of pendants or bracelets.
Not all gold items, particularly very old or very small pieces, may carry a full set of hallmarks, but the fineness mark is one of the most common indicators of real gold content.
