Jewelry Stamp GuideWhat Do the Markings on Your Jewelry Mean?
Found a number or letters stamped on your jewelry and don't know what it means? You're not alone. Those tiny markings tell you what metal your piece is made of, how pure it is, and whether it's solid or plated. Our guides cover every common stamp you'll find on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium jewelry. Pick the guide that matches what you're looking at, and you'll know exactly what you have in minutes.
Gold Jewelry Stamps
What every gold stamp means, from 10K to 24K, 417 to 999, plus plating marks like GP, GF, and RGP.
Silver Jewelry Stamps
Identify silver purity marks on jewelry and silverware, plus how to spot plated items.
Gold Plated vs Solid Gold
How to tell if your jewelry is solid gold or just plated, and what the value difference means.
Platinum & Palladium Stamps
Identify platinum and palladium markings and learn how to tell them apart from white gold.
Why Jewelry Stamps Matter
Jewelry stamps (also called hallmarks or purity marks) are small engravings pressed into metal items that identify the type and purity of the metal. If you're trying to figure out whether a ring, necklace, bracelet, or piece of silverware is valuable, the stamp is the fastest way to find out.
A stamp reading 585 or 14K tells you the item is solid 14 karat gold. A stamp reading 925 tells you it's sterling silver. Stamps like GP or EPNS tell you the item is plated and has little precious metal value.
Understanding these markings is the first step to knowing whether your jewelry is worth selling. Once you identify the metal and purity, you can calculate the melt value using a tool like a scrap gold calculator or scrap silver calculator at MeltValue.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 585 stamp mean on jewelry?
A 585 stamp means the item is 14 karat gold. The number 585 indicates the gold content is 58.5% pure gold. This is one of the most common stamps found on gold jewelry in the United States.
How do I know if my jewelry is real gold or plated?
Check the stamp. Solid gold jewelry is marked with karat stamps like 10K, 14K, 18K, or millesimal fineness numbers like 417, 585, or 750. Plated jewelry uses stamps like GP (gold plated), GF (gold filled), GEP (gold electroplated), HGE (heavy gold electroplate), or RGP (rolled gold plate).
What does 925 mean on jewelry?
A 925 stamp means the item is sterling silver — 92.5% pure silver alloyed with 7.5% other metals (usually copper) for durability. This is the standard purity for silver jewelry worldwide.
Is stamped jewelry always accurate?
Not always. While stamps are generally reliable on commercially manufactured jewelry, counterfeit stamps do exist, especially on items from overseas markets. If you're unsure, a professional evaluation or acid test can confirm the metal content.
Know What You Have? Get a Free Quote.
Once you've identified your jewelry stamps, we can tell you what your pieces are worth. Get a free, no‑obligation quote from our team.