Ask Your Goldsmith:
12Kt Gold Explained

"Appreciate having been able to find your article on gold markings and what can be done with "old" gold. Thanks for the invitation to ask a question.

I did not see 12Kt in the scale of gold markings. Is there a reason for this? Also, could you please tell me what is meant by the fraction in a marking, such as "1/20 12 Kt".....Your other articles about Buying and Selling Jewellery and Taking Care of Your Jeweller are most informative.

Thank you for whatever information you can tell me about the stamped fraction before the Kt stamp."

Gerry


Hallo Gerry!

Thanks for writing me and asking questions!

12 Kt is not very common in Canada or the USA. I see it sometimes from Malta etc. It's half pure gold and the other half is alloy - usually two thirds of it is silver and one third copper, that is what makes up the alloy.

12 KT G/F is something completely different than solid gold! 1/20, or sometimes 1/10 of 12Kt, gold means that 1/20 of the total "thickness" is of 12Kt Gold. In other words, its a rolled and fused on layer of 12 Kt gold on the alloy sheet! They call it also "G/F" or "Gold Filled". It is actually better than a plated item! It contains more gold per weight of the item than a plated piece of jewellery marked "plated over with 24Kt gold."

Also a registered "Trade mark stamp" should be visible to make the KT stamping legal.

Hope to have answered your questions, with sincere greetings from Toronto, Canada

Hartmut Reinsch

For more information, please read my other articles about Buying and Selling Jewellery, About Old Gold and Taking Care of Your Jewellery.

Have a Question? Get the Answer! info@westyorkjewellers.com

Sincerely,

Hartmut Reinsch
President
West York Jewellers
January 2003