Gold (K= karat) (P= Plum) Plum is high quality (purity) when a P is on gold. (example 18KP)

10K......48%pure

12K......50% pure

14K......58.3% pure

18K......75% pure

22K......91.2% pure

24K......99.9% pure

Gold Filled Markings (W1/20 14K G.F.) what it means: W=weight,

1/20 = 5% gold, G.F. = Gold Filled. Gold Filled is 300 times
thicker

than gold plating. Gold filled is bonded to brass or bronze with
(fusing)

heat & pressure. By law 5% of its total weight must be gold.

Gold Plating:

Thin coating of gold over a base metal (Electroplating) A gold
plated

item will be marked 18K or 14K HGE (Heavy Gold Electroplating) Gold

plating is 7 - 100 millionths of an inch thick.

Silver:

Sterling is 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper

Sterling Markings are .925, STER, STERLING.

Sterling from England are marked by a Lion Hallmark.

Silver Filled items are marked 1/20 silver filled.

Vermeil is sterling silver covered by an electroplating of gold.

Platinum:

Markings are PLAT, or PLATINUM