
It can be given verbally when appraising the item, on the price tag or packaging, or even on the invoice or receipt for the purchase. In the United States, jewelry manufacturers are required by law to inform their buyers about the precious metal content in their jewelry, but it doesn’t have to be stamped on the jewelry itself. These weights are usually stamped as simple numbers, but you might also see ct, CW, or carat after it you’ll rarely see the stamp “tdw”, which means total diamond weight. Usually, the first number stands for the center jewel, and the second number stands for the total weight of the other stones. In rings with several gems, you might see two-carat stamps.

This is for the gem in the ring, and it’s pretty easy to read. The next most common stamp is the carat weight.

In some cases, a jeweler will put the ring size in the shankĬW means the carat weight of the gems in the ring Solitaire Diamond (usually followed by a carat weight) Karat Plumb- this means the metal is verified to be at least the stamped karat weight, if not more. Plumb Gold (must be the stamped karat weight or higher) Markĩ karat gold, usually sold in the UK (not the USA)ġ0 karat gold (can be white or yellow gold)ġ2 karat gold (usually found outside of the US)ġ4 karat gold (can be white or yellow gold)ġ8 karat gold (can be white or yellow gold)Ģ0 karat gold (can be white or yellow gold)Ģ2 karat gold (can be white or yellow gold)ġ0 karat pure gold (can be white or yellow gold) Here’s a table to show the most common metal stamps, and their meanings. The k stands for karat, and the number is the percentage of that metal found in the jewelry.įor example, 14k gold means there is 58.5% gold, and the rest is a mix of different alloys. They show the karat weight of the metal, shown as 10k, 14k, or 18k.

Metal StampsĪlso called hallmarks, purity, or quality marks, these stamps are the most common markings, and the most important stamps on any piece of jewelry.
Foreign manuscript writing on my gold ring band skin#
To prevent allergic reactions, it’s possible to buy jewelry that is gold plated, or gold-filled– this keeps the skin from touching the alloy metals and circumvents the allergic reaction altogether.įortunately, if the wearer is allergic to gold, there are plenty of other options available. However, there is still the potential for allergic reactions due to the level of alloy metals. It looks close enough to pure gold, but it can handle everyday wear– because of this, it’s the most common type of gold used for engagement and wedding rings. Most jewelers and buyers prefer 14k gold because it is the perfect balance of durability, affordability, and appearance. Some people might be allergic to the alloy used, and the color isn’t as attractive as other karats.ġ2k means the piece is made of an even 50% gold and 50% alloy.ġ2k gold is more valuable than 9k or 10k, and has a brighter yellow hue although it’s nowhere near as vibrant as pure 24k gold.ġ4k gold is the most common karat for jewelry. It’s pale yellow, and the least yellow of all the karats because it has the least amount of gold.

It’s also the least expensive option for gold alloys.ġ0k gold can be used to make any kind of affordable jewelry, but it’s most commonly used in earrings. It’s 41.7% gold, and 58.3% alloy, and is used for its durability.īecause it’s more alloy than gold, it can handle a fair amount of wear and tear. One karat represents 1/24th of the piece of jewelry’s entire gold content.ĩk gold is 37.5% pure gold, the rest being a mix of alloy metals.ġ0k gold is the lowest solid gold alloy used for jewelry. The k behind these numbers stands for karat. However, these stamps aren’t always easy to understand. Usually, you’ll find these stamps near the clasp of necklaces and bracelets, on the inside of rings, and on the back of earrings and pins. These markings tell the buyer what the piece is made of, what it’s worth, and can be used to track and recover stolen jewelry. Stamps are used to identify the piece’s metal content, carat weights, manufacturer, designer, jewelry, and legal trademark. Most modern jewelry has one, if not more markings stamped somewhere on the piece.
