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Understanding the World of Hallmarks on Jewellery & Engagement Ring Stamps with BAUNAT

Are you familiar with the concept of hallmarks on jewellery and engagement ring stamps? Embarking on a journey with BAUNAT means unveiling the natural beauty of high-quality natural diamonds, intricately handcrafted in Antwerp, along with understanding the personal nature of each piece. 

 

Squint your eyes and observe closely any real gold or platinum jewellery piece - you will likely find small, carefully placed stamps largely hidden from sight. Within the heart of a yellow gold ring, for instance, you might spot these discreet hallmarks. Though visible to the naked eye, these elusive stamps generally require a helping hand from a magnifying glass to be fully comprehended. 

 

These carefully embossed stamps, or 'hallmarks', adorn only the finest of precious metals like gold, silver and platinum, bearing testimony to the metal's purity. 

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What are those tiny stamps on your jewelry and what do they mean?

When examining fine jewelry, you might notice small stamps hidden on the piece. These hallmarks reveal crucial information about the metal's purity. In Germany, the law requires these markings to indicate precious metal content in thousandths—for example, "750" means 75% pure gold (750/1000). The higher the number, the greater the precious metal content and typically the higher the value.

German jewelry commonly uses gold standards from 333 to 750, while pure 999 gold is mainly reserved for bars and coins due to its softness. For platinum, common standards include 585, 750, and 950, with 950 being preferred for jewelry.

European countries have varied hallmarking systems. England uses a lion's head symbol plus year indicators, while countries like Belgium and Italy employ hybrid systems. These small but significant markings help guarantee the quality of BAUNAT's handcrafted Antwerp jewelry.

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Hallmarks on Jewellery & Engagement Ring Stamps Revealed: An Insight Into Germany's Practices

By law, information on the precious metal's fineness in thousandths is essential. For instance, a gold ring embossed with '750' signifies the pure gold content is 750/1000 or 75%. As a basic rule, a higher number implies more precious metal contained in the piece, thus influencing its value. Hence, not all gold measures up to the same standard.

Commonly, jewellery standards in Germany range from 333 to 750 gold. The pure 999 gold is typically found in bars or coins due to its high softness, which makes it less suitable for jewellery production. Platinum, on the other hand, comes in 585, 750, and 950, with 950 being the preferred choice for jewellery production.

Browse our yellow gold ring collection now.

A peek into the Hallmarking Practices Across Europe and the EU

Countries worldwide adopt elaborate hallmarking mechanisms. England, for instance, uses a symbolic lion's head for the responsible authority in London and an embossed letter indicating the year of manufacture, along with the metal fineness stamps. Like France and the Netherlands, England enforces mandatory hallmarking supervised by a state-approved inspection body.

Countries like Belgium, Italy and Sweden follow a hybrid system, where inspection isn't mandatory but there are designated bodies to oversee the hallmarking process or award official master stamps on pieces like gold rings.

Whether you're in the market for a remarkable piece of jewellery or seeking to imbue your personal touch on a diamond engagement ring, your journey with BAUNAT promises an enchanting experience of luxury and personalization. 

Let our BAUNAT team advise you

  • Stephanie Hesters

  • BAUNAT Antwerp

  • As the Head of Diamond Buying at BAUNAT, Stephanie has an extensive knowledge of the diamond and the evolution of diamond prices. Thanks to her broad product knowledge gained throughout her years at BAUNAT and the Diamond Foundation Course by De Beers, Stephanie advises our customers interested in the investment side of diamonds to optimize every investment. To support her skills she has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management together with her master’s in Communication.

As the Head of Diamond Buying at BAUNAT, Stephanie has an extensive knowledge of the diamond and the evolution of diamond prices. Thanks to her broad product knowledge gained throughout her years at BAUNAT and the Diamond Foundation Course by De Beers, Stephanie advises our customers interested in the investment side of diamonds to optimize every investment. To support her skills she has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management together with her master’s in Communication.