Jewellery Journal · · Noura’s Jewellery
Gold hallmarks are the small stamps inside a ring band, on a clasp or on the back of a pendant. They can tell you a lot about a piece — the gold purity it claims, who made it and sometimes where it came from. They cannot, on their own, prove that the piece is genuine. This guide explains how to read the most common gold hallmarks and karat marks, what Canadian rules say about them, and how purity shapes the value of gold jewellery you want to sell, repair or redesign in Ottawa.
What gold hallmarks and karat marks mean
A purity mark describes how much of the metal is gold. Two systems are common. Karats use a scale of 24: 18K means 18 parts gold out of 24. Millesimal fineness uses parts per thousand: 750 means 750 parts gold out of 1,000. Both describe the same thing, so a ring stamped 18K and a ring stamped 750 claim the same gold content.
| Karat mark | Fineness mark | Gold content | Where you often see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999 | 99.9% | Bullion, some chains and bracelets |
| 22K | 916 | 91.6% | South Asian and Middle Eastern jewellery |
| 21K | 875 | 87.5% | Middle Eastern jewellery |
| 18K | 750 | 75% | Fine jewellery, engagement rings |
| 14K | 585 | 58.5% | Most North American jewellery |
| 10K | 417 | 41.7% | Everyday and class rings in Canada |
| 9K | 375 | 37.5% | Older British and European pieces |
Want to see what these purities mean in today’s market? Our gold prices page shows live market values by karat, and the gold purity guide explains each alloy in more detail.
Where to look for the stamp
- Rings: on the inside of the band, often near the bottom.
- Chains and bracelets: on the clasp, the jump ring or a small tag beside the clasp.
- Earrings: on the post, the back or the hook.
- Pendants and lockets: on the bail or the back.
- Watches: inside the case back.
A loupe or magnifying glass helps, and good light makes a big difference. Do not scrub or file a piece to find a mark — you could damage the surface or the stamp itself.
Other marks you may find next to the karat
A purity number is often joined by other letters or symbols. Some of them change the meaning completely:
- A maker’s mark or trademark — a name, initials or a logo identifying the manufacturer or importer.
- GP, GEP or HGE — gold plated, gold electroplated or heavy gold electroplate. A thin gold layer covers another metal.
- GF or RGP (for example “1/20 12K GF”) — gold filled or rolled gold plate. A bonded gold layer covers a base metal. The gold content is real but small.
- 925 on a gold-coloured piece — sterling silver that may be gold plated, sometimes called vermeil.
- Country or assay office marks — common on British and European jewellery and useful for dating older pieces.
What Canadian rules say about gold markings
In Canada, the Precious Metals Marking Act and its regulations govern how gold, silver, platinum and palladium articles are marked, and the Competition Bureau oversees them. Applying a quality mark is not mandatory. When a mark is applied, it must be accurate, and it must be accompanied by a trademark (with exceptions for pieces hallmarked under UK law or marked by a foreign government). In practice, that means an unstamped piece is not automatically fake, and a stamped piece is not automatically genuine. You can read the details on the Competition Bureau’s precious metals marking page.
Why a stamp is not proof of authenticity
- Stamps wear away with years of daily wear and polishing.
- Ring resizing or repairs can remove part of the band that carried the mark.
- Imitation pieces can carry convincing stamps.
- Different parts of one piece — a chain and its clasp, for example — can be made of different alloys.
- Colour does not prove purity: yellow, white and rose gold are all alloys, and white gold is often rhodium plated.
That is why we treat a hallmark as the starting point of a conversation, not the end of it.
How Noura’s checks gold purity in Ottawa
When you bring gold to our shop at Alta Vista Plaza, we look at the marks under magnification, examine how the piece is made and, where needed, test the metal. We explain what we are doing before we test anything, and we talk you through what we find. If a piece is plated, filled or mixed, we tell you plainly. You can read more about each step on our evaluation process page.
How purity affects the value of gold jewellery
For gold that is sold for its metal, the starting point is simple: the weight of the gold, multiplied by its purity, multiplied by the market price of gold that day. A 10-gram 14K chain contains about 5.85 grams of pure gold; a 10-gram 18K chain contains about 7.5 grams. Stones, springs and other non-gold parts do not count towards the gold weight. A shop’s buying offer is then based on that metal value, and branded, antique or gemstone pieces may be assessed differently. Try our precious-metal calculators for an estimate, or read about selling gold at Noura’s.
Before you visit: a short checklist
- Bring every piece you want to discuss, even if you are unsure what it is.
- Do not clean with harsh chemicals or try to remove stones yourself.
- Bring receipts, certificates or appraisals if you have them.
- Keep sentimental pieces you might want to repair or redesign separate — they may be worth more to you whole.
- Bring government-issued photo ID if you plan to sell.
Frequently asked questions
Is 14K real gold?
Yes. 14K gold is an alloy that contains about 58.5% pure gold. The rest is other metals that add strength and change the colour.
My ring has no stamp. Is it fake?
Not necessarily. Marks are not mandatory in Canada and can wear away or disappear during resizing. Testing is the only reliable way to know.
What does 585 or 750 mean on gold?
They are fineness marks in parts per thousand. 585 is the same as 14K, and 750 is the same as 18K.
Is gold filled jewellery worth anything?
Gold filled and rolled gold plate contain a real but small amount of gold, so their metal value is far lower than solid gold of the same weight. We can look at it and explain your options.
Not sure what your stamp means?
Bring your gold to Noura’s Jewellery at Alta Vista Plaza in Ottawa. We will look at the marks with you, explain what they mean and tell you your options — selling, repairing or redesigning. Call 613-680-8883 or message us on WhatsApp.
This guide is general information, not an appraisal, a binding quote or investment advice. Every piece is assessed in person.