Reading Jewelry Stamps or Labels

• 1). Identify pure sterling silver, which contains 92.5 percent pure fine silver, by the following stamps: ".925 Sterling Silver"; "925 Sterling Silver"; or "Sterling Silver."
  
  
• 2). Remember that a "10K" stamp means jewelry is 41.6 percent pure gold, or 10 parts out of 24. Such gold may also be stamped "16," "417," or "10KP."
  
  
• 3). Look for a "14K" stamp to indicate jewelry that is 53.8 percent pure gold, or 14 parts out of 24. Other stamps used to identify 14K jewelry are: "585," "585" and "14KP."
  
  
• 4). Note that "18K" means jewelry 75 percent pure gold, or 18 parts out of 24. Such jewelry may also be stamped with the following marks: "750" or "18KP."
  
  
• 5). Know that "22K" indicates that jewelry is 91.6 percent pure gold, or 22 parts out of 24. This jewelry can also be stamped with "916" or "917."
  
  
• 6). Find out if jewelry is 100 percent pure gold by looking for the "24K" symbol. This jewelry may also be marked with "999."
  
  
• 7). Identify jewelry stamped "900 Platinum" as 90 percent pure platinum, or 900 parts out of 1,000. "900 Plat," "Plat 900," "Pt900," and "900Pt" are other stamps used to identify this jewelry.
  
  
• 8). Remember that a "950 Platinum" stamp means jewelry is 95 percent pure platinum, or 950 parts out of 1000. Such jewelry may also be stamped "PLAT," "PT," "950 Plat," "Plat 950," "Pt950," or "950Pt."