Makers Marks

Gold jewellery has been one of the most treasured material things for some people, which they’ll either keep in a safe place or show to the world. However, not all gold pieces of jewellery are genuine. It may look real and valuable for now, but you’ll never know if you don’t check.

That is why in this guide, we will outline the things you need to know about gold jewellery maker’s mark identification. Checking the maker’s mark is one of the precautions you can take to ensure that your necklace, ring, bracelet, or earring is not counterfeit.

What Is a Jewellery Maker’s Mark? 

Also called trademarks, a jewellery maker’s mark is the initials you find inscribed in gold, platinum, or silver pieces of jewellery. These initials represent the manufacturing company where the item is from and often serve as the only indication or evidence of the manufacturer’s authenticity.

Aside from initials, the gold jewellery maker’s mark identification can also be the exact name of the manufacturer or a unique representative symbol. Some countries also require hallmarks that represent the jewellery’s origin.

Jewellery Marks You May Have Seen but Not Really Cared About

Have you ever noticed that tiny inscription in your jewellery? Sometimes, it doesn’t make sense to you, and you’re like, “What does it even mean?”. Or sometimes, you just don’t care at all. However, these jewellery marks are essential in identifying whether or not you have a genuine piece with you.

Jewellery Maker’s Marks

A jewellery maker’s marks vary. It can be the manufacturer’s logo, company name, designer signatures, or trademarks. Let’s talk about some of the world-renowned jewellery brands.  

For example, Cartier has its company logo etched on its jewellery items and a unique serial number for each piece. Some of Tifanny and Co.’s pieces of jewellery also have their company name on them along with the purity number. 

It’s important to research if you’re not quite sure about the maker’s mark of a particular jeweller

Gold Purity Marks

One of the most common jewellery marks in gold is the karat mark. You know this—it ranges from 10K to 24K for jewellery. But what do these marks really mean? 

A karat is the measurement of gold’s purity; 1K is equal to 1/24 part of pure gold by weight. Therefore, the higher the karat is, the more gold the jewellery contains, and 24 karat is pure gold.

Here’s a list for your reference:
Number of Karats / Percentage of Gold Purity / Millesimal Fineness

10K
41.7%
375 

12K
50.0% 
500 

14K
58.3% 
583/585

16K
75.0% 
750 

18K
91.7% 
916/917

20K
99.9% 
999

As previously mentioned, 24K gold jewellery has pure gold content, which is more valuable than the rest. However, it is rarely used for making jewellery because pure gold is too soft and may easily get damaged. 

Silver Purity Marks 

Gold and silver have distinct purity marks. Still, silver purity marks also indicate the metal content of an item. This table below will give you a clearer idea of the different types of silver and their purity marks. 

Type of Silver  | Percentage of Silver | Purity Mark | Others

Britannia Silver 95%
950
Softer than sterling silver

Sterling Silver 92.5%
925
Jewellery items with a purity mark over 925 are sterling silver

Coin Silver 90%
900
Non-sterling

European Silver 80%
800
Non-sterling; known as continental silver

Silver Plate
Minimal silver content
Depends on the maker
Silver plates only have a thin coating of silver

If you’re looking for genuine silver, you have to be attentive to metals marked as Nickel Silver or German Silver, as these pieces are made of nickel, zinc, and/or copper. 

Assay Marks

Assay offices are independent bodies that help customers avoid buying fake jewellery pieces and other precious metals by testing their purity. If the metal is found to be valuable, as the makers claimed, it will then have an assay mark as a certification of its metallurgical content. 

The assay marks will depend on the office where the metal is tested, and it may also have a date letter representing when the assay was performed. 

Get Your Gold at TJ Handcrafted

It may be difficult to memorise all the gold jewellery maker’s mark identification for some people, as it can be a lot. Plus, there are other types of jewellery marks you should be aware of so that you won’t be a victim of counterfeit items. But there’s always a way around that—buy from reputable companies and jewellers like us. 

TJ Handcrafted offers a wide selection of gold jewellery that is perfect for daily use or grand occasions. We also do custom jewellery designs for you or your loved ones.
You may also reach us at 0221621266 for more enquiries.