What each purity stamp means
Short answer: the number is parts per thousand of pure metal. 585 is 58.5% gold (14K), 750 is 75% gold (18K), 925 is 92.5% silver (sterling) and 950 is 95% platinum.
| Stamp you may see | Pure metal | Metal |
|---|---|---|
| 10K, 10KT, 417 | 41.7% | Gold |
| 14K, 14KT, 585 | 58.5% | Gold |
| 18K, 18KT, 750 | 75% | Gold |
| 22K, 22KT, 916 or 917 | 91.7% | Gold |
| 24K, 999, 9999 | 99.9% or higher | Gold |
| 925, STERLING, STER | 92.5% | Silver |
| 900, COIN | 90% | Silver |
| 800 | 80% | Silver |
| 999, FINE SILVER | 99.9% | Silver |
| 950, PLAT, PT950 | 95% | Platinum |
| 900 PLAT, 850 PLAT | 90% and 85% | Platinum (older pieces) |
| Pd950, PALL | 95% | Palladium |
Where to look: inside the band of a ring, on the clasp or jump ring of a chain, behind the post of an earring, and on the back or base of silver pieces. A jeweler's loupe or a phone camera held close makes small stamps readable.
Stamps that mean the piece is not solid
Some stamps look like purity marks but describe a thin coating over a base metal. These carry little or no scrap value.
- GF, GEP, or a fraction such as 1/20 12K GF. Gold filled: a layer of gold bonded to brass or copper. Thicker than plate, still not solid gold.
- GP, HGE, RGP, HGP. Gold plated, heavy gold electroplate, rolled gold plate. A micron-thin layer.
- EP, EPNS, SP, A1. Silver plate or electroplated nickel silver. Not sterling. See silver plate vs sterling.
- Brand names with no number. A designer logo alone does not state purity. Look for the number next to it.
Why a stamp is not proof
A stamp records what the maker says the piece is. Stamps can be missing from worn pieces, removed during resizing, or faked on imports.
That is why we test the metal itself with an XRF analyzer in front of you, and price the piece from the live market using the tested purity, not the stamp. If your piece has no mark at all, bring it in anyway.
From stamp to value
Once you know the purity, the weight sets the melt value. The per-gram karat table does the arithmetic from the live gold price, the gold calculator handles a bag of mixed pieces, and selling gold jewelry covers what happens at the counter.
Palladium and platinum pieces are bought too. See selling platinum and what we buy.
Purity stamp FAQs
What does 585 mean on gold jewelry?
585 is the European way of writing 14K. It means 58.5% pure gold, so a 10 gram piece holds 5.85 grams of gold. 14K, 14KT and 585 all describe the same alloy.
What does 925 mean on silver?
925 means sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver. Pieces may also say STERLING, STER or .925. A lion walking left is the British sterling mark.
What do GF, HGE, RGP and GP mean on a ring or chain?
All four mean the piece is gold plated or gold filled over a base metal. GF means gold filled, a thicker layer than plate, but still not solid gold. HGE, RGP and GP are plating marks and carry no meaningful melt value.
What does PLAT or 950 mean?
PLAT, PT and 950 on jewelry mean platinum at 95% purity. Older pieces may be 900 or 850. Platinum is heavier than gold and is often stamped inside the ring shank.
My piece has no stamp. Is it fake?
Not necessarily. Stamps wear off with decades of wear, get removed by resizing, and are missing on some foreign and handmade pieces. An in-store test settles it in seconds.
Is a stamp proof that a piece is solid gold?
No. A stamp is the maker's claim, and fake stamps exist. Testing the metal is the only way to know, which is why we test every piece in front of you with an XRF analyzer.
Not sure what a stamp says? Bring the piece to any of our 8 New Jersey stores. We read the marks, test the metal and pay the same day. Call (732) 483-4145.