What Does the Stamp Inside of a Ring Mean?
Last Updated Apr 4, 2020 11:12:48 AM ET

The stamp inside a ring, bracelet or other piece of jewelry is used by the manufacturer to indicate the manufacturer's or designer's name, the metal purity and type. Called hallmarks or assay marks, there are a very large number but in terms of valuation, the most important deal with metal type and purity.
Silver purity is given in a numerical code, which refers to its purity across a thousand parts.
- 925 is sterling silver
- May also appear as: S. Silver, sterling, SS or 925/1000
- May be gold plated
Gold may be indicated as a karat weight, or K, or also as a numerical code referring to its purity over a thousand parts, based on pure gold being 24 karats.
- 10K - 10 karats; 14K - 14 karats; 18K - 18 karats; 22K - 22 karats, or
- 417 - 10 karats; 585 - 14 karats; 750 - 18 karats; 833 - 20 karats.
- Platinum - the other precious metal - is indicated as Plat. or 950 Plat.
Other metals use varying formats to indicate type. Base metals hallmarks only indicate the type of metal and not its purity.
- S.S. - stainless steel
- G.F. - gold filled like a gold shell filled with a base metal
- G.P. - gold plating over a base metal
More From Reference

10 Must-Watch TED Talks That Have the Power to Change Your Life

Strange Americana: Does Video Footage of Bigfoot Really Exist?

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change In-Person Retail Shopping in Lasting Ways

Tips and Tricks for Making Driveway Snow Removal Easier

Here’s How Online Games Like Prodigy Are Revolutionizing Education

What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment?