Friday means.... Jewelry Culture ✨💎🔍

Ep #10: Hallmarks 💫

✨ As a reminder, various gold alloys exist on the market: 24-carat gold which contains 100% gold (rarely used in jewelry as it is very soft), 18-carat or 750 parts per thousand gold which is the most robust and durable over time, or 14-carat gold…

These alloys are composed of gold and other metals that vary depending on the desired gold shade. For example, our 18-carat rose gold is composed of 75% gold, 5% silver, and 20% copper!

✨ But how do you identify the caratage of gold in a piece of jewelry?... with a hallmark 🤩

A hallmark is a tool used to mark jewelry to certify its metal content. It is used on precious metals, namely: gold, silver, and platinum.

✨ This method of guarantee appeared in the 13th century to certify goldsmiths' work and has evolved significantly over the centuries. The modern hallmarks used today were created in 1828 and are very commonly used in jewelry.

✨ Precious metal jewelry is therefore marked with a guarantee hallmark that indicates the quality of the metal. Here are the details of the existing hallmarks for gold:

• Seahorse: 24-carat gold or 999‰
• Eagle's head: 18-carat gold or 750‰
• Scallop shell: 14-carat gold or 585‰
• Clover: 9-carat gold or 375‰

✨ Please note: a hallmark is only mandatory for jewelry weighing over 3 grams of gold. It is also customary to use the gold percentage of the alloy as a hallmark: 750 for 18-carat gold, for example, as it is composed of 75% gold. This is what you can find inside our jewelry 😉