MAIPO

Karat in precious Metals means Purity. Carats in Diamonds means Weight.

Generally jewelry manufactured in the US have a stamp indicating karats 9kt -- 10kt – 14kt – 18kt on the piece, in Europe they also use 375 – 417 – 585 – 750. The manufacturers and big sellers will also stamp their labels. (Our stamp is an M or a 1963PR inside a rhombus shape square) The karats on these pieces should be karat plumb pieces. Karat in precious Metals means Purity.

Other stamps are; GP is gold plated, GF is gold filled, HGE is Heavy Gold Electroplate. These items only have a small layer of gold on them (low gold value).

For Sterling Silver the stamp is .925

Be aware, there are manufacturers that are not fair and will stamp any number of karats and manufacture with less amount of gold than what they are stamping. This fact has been shown in the news several times.

Karat Plumb or Standard of Fineness of Gold Articles:

Any jewelry manufactured should not be less than seven one-thousands parts; or three one-thousand parts in the case of flatware and watchcases, indicated by the mark stamped, branded, engraved, or imprinted upon such article.