Guides · Common Fakes & Counterfeits · Jewelry and gold guide
Common fakes: jewelry and gold
Stamps tell you a lot, but they can mislead. Learn what each mark does and doesn't promise.
General tips, not authentication. This is an estimate, not an appraisal. When in doubt, use a professional authentication service.
Most common fakes
- Fake hallmarks exist, and real ones can be moved from another piece. A factory stamp on its own guarantees nothing. Sources: jewelersgallery.com · hallmarksociety.com
- Gold Filled (GF), Gold Plated (GP) or Gold Electroplate (GEP), Heavy Gold Electroplate (HGE) and Rolled Gold Plate (RGP) all mean the piece is not solid gold. A karat next to them, as in 14 karat (14K) GF, describes only the gold layer. Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS) has no solid silver. Sources: jewelryshopping.com · hallmarksociety.com
How to spot them
- Karat and fineness marks: 10 karat (10K) = 417, 14K = 585, 18 karat (18K) = 750, 22 karat (22K) = 916, 24 karat (24K) = 999. A 925 mark means sterling silver, and 900 means coin silver. Sources: allinfaith.com · fairfaxcounty.gov
- Vermeil is gold over sterling silver, so it can carry a 925 mark without being gold through. Sources: fairfaxcounty.gov · hallmarksociety.com
Tests you can do safely
- A thermal diamond tester can read moissanite as diamond, so use a dual tester. Cubic zirconia is heavier than a diamond of the same size. Sources: igi.org · thegemtray.com
When to get it authenticated
Coming soon.
These guides are general screening tips, not authentication or appraisals. Sources are independent sites we don't control and aren't affiliated with. Sources checked Nov 2, 2026.
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