Gold and silver hallmarks explained
A hallmark tells you what your gold or silver is made of. Once you know what the numbers mean, it's easy to work out what you have.
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Last updated 17 October 2026
Gold stamps
| Stamp | Carat | Pure gold |
|---|---|---|
| 333 | 8ct (common in Europe) | 33.3% |
| 375 | 9ct | 37.5% |
| 585 | 14ct | 58.5% |
| 750 | 18ct | 75% |
| 916 | 22ct | 91.6% |
| 990 / 999 | 24ct | 99%+ |
Silver stamps
| Stamp | Name | Pure silver |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | Continental silver | 80% |
| 835 | Continental silver | 83.5% |
| 925 | Sterling silver | 92.5% |
| 958 | Britannia silver | 95.8% |
| 999 | Fine silver | 99.9% |
British hallmarks
A full British hallmark usually has a maker's mark, a purity mark, an assay office mark and often a date letter. The assay office mark tells you where it was tested:
- London: a leopard's head
- Birmingham: an anchor
- Sheffield: a rose (a crown on older silver)
- Edinburgh: a castle
Older British silver often shows a walking lion for sterling. Older gold may show a crown with a number such as 9, 18 or 22, or the carat written out, such as 9.375.
Marks that don't mean solid gold or silver
- GP, GEP or HGE: gold plated
- RGP or GF: rolled gold or gold filled
- EPNS or A1: silver plated
- Nickel silver or German silver: no silver at all
Questions people ask
What does 925 mean on jewellery?
925 means sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver.
What does 375 mean on gold?
375 means 9 carat gold, which is 37.5% pure gold.
My jewellery has no hallmark. Is it worthless?
Not necessarily. Older and foreign pieces often aren't marked. We can test it.
Ask for an offer
Tell us what you have. We'll reply with an offer as soon as we can.