Gold hallmarks

Gold hallmark

En bijouterie et en orfèvrerie, le poinçon or est un cachet apposé sur un objet ou un bijou en or afin de certifier qu’il est en or véritable, essentiel dans le domaine de l’achat Or et vente Or. Le poinçon de garantie peut être fait par le bureau de garantie française après un contrôle, par l’orfèvre, le fabriquant ou l’importateur. Le poinçonnage de l’or s’effectue à l’aide d’un outil fabriqué spécialement pour poinçonner s’appelant pointeau. La maison ou la marque commerciale ayant produit ou importé l’objet en métal précieux peut également apposer son « poinçon de maître » servant de signature.

Definition of a gold hallmark

Most precious metals and gold jewelry have a hallmark to identify the type of gold alloy and its gold content. It guarantees the purity of the gold alloys used in manufacture, whether 9, 14, 18 or 22 carat, yellow gold, white gold, white gold or rose gold. The gold hallmark used in jewelry allows you to determine the value according to the quantity of pure gold contained and the gold price, without having to test the gold.
The gold hallmark is a guarantee of the quality of a gold object, affixed by the French customs guarantee office to new or second-hand items weighing more than 3 grams.

How to recognize gold with hallmarks

Among the thousands of warranty hallmarks available, here are the most common.

Hallmark name	Carats Gold	Title Gold
Tête d'Aigle	18k gold 18k gold	^750/1000th gold
Shell Scallops	14 karat gold 14k gold	^585/1000th gold
Clover	9 karat gold 9k gold	^375/1000th gold
Seahorse	24k gold 24k gold	^999/1000th gold
Tête d'Aigle 1	22 karat gold 22k gold	^916/1000th gold
Tête d'Aigle 3	18k gold 18k gold	^750/1000th gold
Owl	18k gold 18k gold	Gold > ^500/1000th
Owl	18k gold 18k gold	Or < 500/1000^ème
Coq Premier Titre	22 karat gold 22k gold	^916/1000th gold
Rooster 3	18k gold 18k gold	^750/1000th gold
Weevil	18k gold 18k gold	^750/1000th gold
Rhinoceros	Gold	Gold Not determined
Rhinoceros 2	Gold	Gold Not determined
Horse head	18k gold 18k gold	^750/1000th gold
Wild boar Eagle	12 karat gold 12k gold	Gold ^500/1000th

However, there are many thousands of gold hallmarks that have been used over the years. For example, they are used to guarantee imported items, small guarantees or items of uncertain origin.

The different types of hallmarks on gold

Le Poinçon de Maitre

La forme du poinçon or en lui même signifie quelque chose. En plus des poinçons d’état, l’orfèvre ou le bijoutier peut apposer son propre poinçon de maitre. La gravure est en forme de losange et les lettres apposées à l’intérieur sont la marque de l’artisan orfèvre. Il existe également une gravure de forme ovale pour le poinçon d’importateur. Ces poinçons sont appelés « poinçon de responsabilité ».

The square gold-plating hallmark

A square punch means that the jewel or object is gold-platedwhich greatly reduces its value.
One example is Murat, a famous jewelry brand that manufactures only gold-plated jewelry, not solid gold. As a result gold hallmarks are all square-shaped.

International Gold Hallmarks

Abroad gold hallmarks are different, as only France has its own hallmarks. The other countries therefore use the same gold hallmarks indicating either the gold content in thousandths or the carat. Thus, a 750 in a diamond-shaped hallmark means that the jewel is made from 750 thousandths or 75% pure gold. The carat equivalent can be calculated as follows: 24 (carats of gold) x 0.75 (percentage of gold) = 18 carats. The other is simpler gold hallmark frappé à l’étranger, qui indique simplement le nombre de carats suivit de la lettre « K » ou « KT » pour karat.

Table of guarantee hallmarks

warranty hallmark table

How do I find the gold hallmark?

The small hallmark is often illegible to the naked eye. So you'll probably need a magnifying glass to distinguish the hollow of the gold symbol on gold objects. However, it's possible that the engraving has disappeared with wear. In any case, you can visit us to test the gold.

The hallmark on gold jewelry

The gold hallmark of a gold ring can be found on the inner or outer ring.
Gold necklaces, chains, curbets or bracelets will in most cases have the hallmark on one end, near the clasp.
Medals and pendants generally have the engraving on the back or on the clasp.
On watches, it is engraved on the case inside or outside the cap. If the bracelet is gold, it will also be engraved on the clasp.
In France, gold jewelry weighing less than 3 grams does not need to be hallmarked.

Investment gold hallmarks

24-carat gold is generally only available in the form of pure gold bar , fine gold ingot or gold plate. Gold bars do not have a gold hallmark , as the gold content in thousandths is engraved on them.
Gold coins are generally made of gold 900/1000 or higher and have no guarantee hallmarks. On recent coins, however, you may find one on the scroll or contour.