The word seal is generally misunderstood by many people. Most people confuse seals with the manufacturer’s mark. A hallmark is an indication of metal content with respect to purity and quality that may include the manufacturer’s mark as part of the mark only, as well as other official markings. But seals are not just a manufacturer’s mark. Hallmarks are commonly found on precious metal objects. An hallmarked piece of jewelry contains markings that help us easily identify its country of origin, date of manufacture, indication of metal content, and type of precious metal used in the piece of jewelry. Therefore, the most proper definition of a hallmark would be a stamped, printed, laser-engraved, or struck mark or marks in gold, silver, platinum, and now palladium indicating its fineness or karat rating by its purity marks.
Contrast has always been a protection for buyers of gold and silver items in many countries around the world. A seal certifies the purity of jewelry items in accordance with the Standard Specifications used by international standards. Appraisal of gold items is completed at an official assay and hallmark office. Gold items are then certified that the metal used in the item meets national and international standards for purity and fineness of gold. The hallmark reassures the consumer that the item of jewelry they are purchasing is of the correct purity, so the consumer feels safe investing their hard-earned money in the piece of jewelry.
Today, jewelry hallmarks are sometimes illegally copied, which can falsify the authenticity of the product and the material used in its manufacture. Items with fake replica stamps do not offer a genuine testament to the quality and purity of the item they are stamped on. Therefore, only purchase your jewelry from a reputable source and check that the stamps on your items are correct according to the declared purity of the item. Gold is considered a worthy investment and the fact that it is marked demonstrates the value of that item purchased in precious metal. One can usually find the hallmark by turning the item over and looking at the bottom of your jewelry item or by looking closely around the clasp area of your item. However, buyers should familiarize themselves with the proper appearance of a hallmark and learn how to recognize various jewelry hallmarks.
The purity of gold is measured in terms of karats, with 24 karats being 100% pure gold. Some countries mark gold with a three-digit number indicating the part per thousand of gold. For example, according to this system, 750 means that 750 parts in 1,000 is actually gold which is equal to 18 carats. Gold a mark of 500 means that 500 parts out of 1000 are made up of gold, which would equal a 12 karat grade. Therefore, whenever you are shopping for gold, check the hallmark to ensure the purity and actual gold content of the item you are purchasing. In addition to consumer satisfaction, the jewelry hallmark creates a standardized precious metal grading system for export markets of the jewelry industry that provides regulations for jewelry exporters.
Stamped genuine gold has a long shelf life and retains its shine and precious metal properties for years. Therefore, items created in real precious metals like gold when hallmarked can easily be passed down from generation to generation. So when you buy gold, make sure that the gold is marked according to legal standards according to the standards set by your specific country or international standards. It will ensure that the gold, silver, palladium or platinum jewelry you are buying is truly authentic in terms of purity and quality.