The Mark Index

Silver and Gold Purity Mark Decoder: What 925, 800, 84, 750 and 585 Mean

Type the numbers or letters stamped on a piece of silver, gold, platinum or palladium and see what they claim: the metal, how pure it is, and where and when that mark was used. 41 marks, each value tied to the law or reference that defines it.

By The Mark Index EditorsSources checked October 10, 202641 marks · 18 sourcesCC BY 4.0

Purity mark decoder

The Mark Index
Silver
Gold
Platinum & palladium
Plated or no silver

Every value is sourced: open “Sources” on any result. A purity mark tells you the claimed metal content, not who made the piece, its age or its value.

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How to read a purity mark

  1. A three-digit number is parts per thousand. 925 means 925 parts of silver in 1,000, or 92.5%. Gold uses the same scale: 750 is 18 karat and 585 is 14 karat.[1][2][3]
  2. K, KT and CT are karats out of 24. 24 karat is pure gold, so 18K is 18/24 = 750. In UK law a karat figure converts to fineness in proportion.[3]
  3. Look for the metal, not just the number. 950 can be platinum, French silver or palladium, and 999 is used for all four metals. A word or symbol next to the number, the shape of a UK hallmark shield, or the color of the metal settles it.[1][2]

Numbers with two meanings

The same figure turns up on different metals, so the decoder shows every reading it knows. These are the ones that catch people out most.

  • 999Fine silver (silver); Fine gold (24 karat) (gold); Platinum 999 (platinum); Palladium 999 (palladium).[1][2][4][5]
  • 950French first standard (also old Italian) (silver); Platinum 950 (platinum); Palladium 950 (palladium).[1][4][5][6]
  • 875 or 84Russian 84 zolotnik / 14 Loth (silver); 21 karat (gold).[3][6]
  • 75018 karat (gold); 12 Loth silver (silver).[1][3][4][6]
  • 916 or 8822 karat (gold); Russian 88 zolotnik (silver).[1][3][4][6]
  • 585 or 58314 karat (gold); 14 karat (exact 14/24) (gold).[1][2][3][4]

The law behind the numbers

  • United Kingdom. The Hallmarking Act 1973 sets the standards that can be hallmarked: gold 375, 585, 750, 916.6, 990 and 999; silver 800, 925, 958.4 and 999; platinum 850, 900, 950 and 999; palladium 500, 950 and 999. A piece sold as gold or silver must be hallmarked above small exemption weights.[1]
  • United States. The National Gold and Silver Stamping Act of 1906 reserves “sterling” for 925 and “coin” for 900 silver. Since a 1961 amendment, anyone who stamps a quality mark must also stamp a registered trademark or name next to it, and the FTC’s Jewelry Guides define gold filled, rolled gold plate, gold electroplate and vermeil.[3][4][5]
  • The Hallmarking Convention. Member countries recognize each other’s Common Control Mark. Its technical decisions in force from 1 October 2026 set the minimums at gold 375, silver 800, platinum 500 and palladium 500.[7]

For more on silver specifically, see silver purity numbers and sterling, coin silver or silverplate.

Every mark in the decoder

41 marks. “Worked out” means the figure follows from the karat proportion and no law we cite names it as a standard.

41 of 41 marks
MarkMeaningPurityWhere and when
999FINE SILVER, .999, 999/1000Fine silversilver99.9%A current UK hallmarking standard for silver and a nominal standard under the international Hallmarking Convention.[1][2]
958BRITANNIA, 958.4, .958Britannia silversilver95.84%Compulsory English standard for silver plate from 1697 to 1720, and an optional higher UK standard ever since.[1][3][4]
950.950French first standard (also old Italian)silver95.0%Used in France, where the standard was shown by head-shaped marks rather than numbers, and in Italy from 1872 (female-head marks).[6]
9191 zolotnikRussian 91 zolotniksilver94.8%Russian silver standard (91/96).[6]
935.935, 934Swiss 935 (and Dutch first standard, .934)silver93.5%One of the standards Switzerland set in 1880; the Netherlands used a lion with '1' for .934 from 1814.[6]
925STERLING, STER, STER., STERLING SILVER, 925/1000Sterlingsilver92.5%The English standard since 1300 and the legal meaning of 'sterling' in both the UK and the U.S.; in the UK it can be shown with a lion passant (lion rampant in Edinburgh).[1][3][4][5][6][8][9]
VERMEILSILVER GILTVermeilgold over sterling silver92.5% (silver base)U.S.: sterling silver coated with at least 10K gold, at least 2.5 microns thick. UK: may be used only alongside 'gold plated' and 'silver'.[5][10]
8888 zolotnikRussian 88 zolotniksilver91.7%Higher Russian silver standard (88/96).[6]
900COIN, COIN SILVER, .900Coin silversilver90.0%U.S. legal meaning of 'coin' silver; common on American silver made before sterling took over around 1870.[5][6][8]
87584, .875, 14 LOTH, 14Russian 84 zolotnik / 14 Lothsilver87.5%Russian silver marked 84 (84/96 of pure); older German and Austro-Hungarian silver marked 14 Loth (14/16); also one of the Swiss standards set in 1880.[6]
835.835835 silversilver83.5%A nominal silver standard under the international Hallmarking Convention (technical decisions in force from 1 October 2026).[2]
830830S, S830, .830, 830HScandinavian 830silver83.0%The most common Danish mark (830S), Norway's lowest legal standard, and also used in Finland (.830H) and Portugal.[2][6][11][12]
826.826Danish 826 (older minimum)silver82.6%Danish minimum silver standard under the national system adopted in 1893, until 830 came into use from about 1911.[11]
813813H, .813HFinnish 813Hsilver81.3%Finnish silver standard; Finland adds 'H' after the number.[6]
800.800, 800S800 silver (German/continental standard)silver80.0%Minimum fineness for marking German silverware under the law in force since 1 January 1888 (shown with a crescent moon and crown); also the lowest UK and Convention silver standard.[1][2][6][7]
750 (silver)12 LOTH, 1212 Loth silversilver75.0%Older German and Austro-Hungarian silver (Loth system, 16 = pure) marked 12; the FTC uses '750 silver' as an example of a lawful U.S. description today.[5][6]
EPNSE.P.N.S.Electroplated nickel silversilver plate on nickel silver—The most common British silver-plate mark: a thin silver layer over a nickel-silver base.[13][14]
EPBME.P.B.M.Electroplated Britannia metalsilver plate on Britannia metal—British silver plate on a Britannia-metal (base-metal) body.[3][13]
EPE.P., EPGS, EPWM, EPCA, EP ON COPPERElectroplatedsilver plate—General British silver-plate marks naming the base metal (e.g., EPGS = electroplated German silver).[7][13]
A1AIBritish plate quality gradesilver plate—Letter grades used by British electroplaters, A1 being the best quality.[13]
999 (gold)24K, 24CT, 24KT, 999/1000Fine gold (24 karat)gold99.9%A current UK gold standard (marked 999) and a Convention nominal standard.[1][5][15]
99024K (990)990 goldgold99.0%A UK gold standard and Convention nominal standard; the London assay office counts it as a 24ct category.[1][15]
91622K, 22CT, 22KT, 916.622 karatgold91.66%UK 22-carat standard (916.6, struck as '916'); English marks for 22 carat with a crown and '22' date from 1844.[1][3][4]
875 (gold)21K, 21KT21 karat Worked outgold87.5%Not a UK or Convention standard; the value comes from the karat-to-fineness proportion (21/24).[3]
750 (gold)18K, 18CT, 18KT, 750/100018 karatgold75.0%UK 18-carat standard; in England 18 carat was re-introduced as a standard in 1798 with a crown and '18'.[1][3][4]
58514K, 14CT, 14KT, 585/100014 karatgold58.5%The 14-carat standard in UK law (since 1932, replacing 12 and 15 carat), in the Convention, and the minimum stated fineness for German gold ware.[1][2][3][4][7]
58314K (583)14 karat (exact 14/24)gold58.3%The mathematically exact value of 14 karat (seven parts gold to five parts alloy), seen on some pieces instead of 585.[16][17]
41710K, 10KT10 karatgold41.7%A nominal gold standard under the Convention's technical decisions (in force 1 October 2026); widely used in the U.S.[2][10][18]
3759K, 9CT, 9KT9 karatgold37.5%The lowest UK gold standard and the Convention minimum; 9 carat was introduced in England in 1854. It is the UK's most-hallmarked gold.[1][3][4][15]
3338K, 8KT8 karat (German jewelry) Worked outgold33.3%Found mainly on German jewelry; German law lets jewelry carry any fineness stated in thousandths.[2][3][7]
GFGOLD FILLED, 1/20 14K GF, 1/20 12K GFGold filledgold layer on base metal—U.S. term: a mechanically bonded layer of at least 10K gold making up at least 1/20 of the metal weight.[5][12]
RGPR.G.P., ROLLED GOLD PLATE, GOLD OVERLAY, 1/40 12K RGPRolled gold plategold layer on base metal—U.S. term for a mechanically bonded layer of at least 10K gold making up at least 1/40 of the metal weight.[5]
GEPGP, G.E.P., GOLD PLATE, GOLD ELECTROPLATE, HGEGold electroplate / heavy gold electroplategold layer on base metal—U.S. terms: gold electroplate needs at least 10K gold equal to 0.175 microns of fine gold; 'heavy gold electroplate' (HGE) needs 2.5 microns.[5]
999 (platinum)999PT, 999PLAT, PT999, 999 Pt.Platinum 999platinum99.9%A UK platinum standard (marked 999); UK platinum hallmarks were introduced when the 1973 Act came into effect in 1975.[1][4][15]
950 (platinum)950PT, 950PLAT, PT950, 950 Pt.Platinum 950platinum95.0%A UK platinum standard (marked 950); UK platinum hallmarks were introduced when the 1973 Act came into effect in 1975.[1][4][5]
900 (platinum)900PT, 900PLAT, PT900, 900 Pt.Platinum 900platinum90.0%A UK platinum standard (marked 900); UK platinum hallmarks were introduced when the 1973 Act came into effect in 1975. In the U.S. it may be called 'Platinum' only with the number in front.[1][4][5]
850 (platinum)850PT, 850PLAT, PT850, 850 Pt.Platinum 850platinum85.0%A UK platinum standard (marked 850); UK platinum hallmarks were introduced when the 1973 Act came into effect in 1975. In the U.S. it may be called 'Platinum' only with the number in front.[1][4][5]
999 (palladium)999PD, 999PALL, PD999Palladium 999palladium99.9%A UK palladium standard since palladium came under the Hallmarking Act on 22 July 2009; UK palladium marks may carry the head of Pallas Athene.[1][5]
950 (palladium)950PD, 950PALL, PD950Palladium 950palladium95.0%A UK palladium standard since palladium came under the Hallmarking Act on 22 July 2009; UK palladium marks may carry the head of Pallas Athene.[1][5]
500 (palladium)500PD, 500PALL, PD500Palladium 500palladium50.0%A UK palladium standard since palladium came under the Hallmarking Act on 22 July 2009; UK palladium marks may carry the head of Pallas Athene.[1][5]
NICKEL SILVERGERMAN SILVER, NICKEL BRASSNickel silverbase metal (no silver)0% silverA copper-nickel-zinc alloy used for flatware bases, hardware and musical instruments.[14]

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Chicago
The Mark Index Editors. “Silver and Gold Purity Mark Decoder: What 925, 800, 84, 750 and 585 Mean.” The Mark Index. Last modified October 10, 2026. https://themarkindex.com/purity-mark-decoder/.
MLA
“Silver and Gold Purity Mark Decoder: What 925, 800, 84, 750 and 585 Mean.” The Mark Index, 10 Oct. 2026, themarkindex.com/purity-mark-decoder/.
APA
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Method

Every value in the decoder was taken from a source we opened and saved on October 10, 2026: UK legislation and assay office guidance, the U.S. Code and the FTC’s Jewelry Guides, Germany’s fineness law, the Hallmarking Convention’s published decisions, and, for older European systems such as Russian zolotniki and German Loth, collector references (marked Secondary). 31 of the 41 entries rest on at least one primary source. The decoder runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere. Last updated October 10, 2026. Found an error? Tell us.

Sources

  1. PrimaryHallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 2 – Approved Hallmarks (legislation.gov.uk). legislation.gov.uk
  2. PrimaryHallmarking Convention, Decisions on Technical Matters, PMC/W 2/2001 (Rev. 13), in force 1 October 2026. hallmarkingconvention.org
  3. PrimaryHallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk). legislation.gov.uk
  4. SecondaryHistory of Hallmarking, The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office. assayofficelondon.co.uk
  5. Primary16 CFR Part 23, FTC Jewelry Guides (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov
  6. SecondarySilver Marks on Beer Steins, Stephen L. Smith, Beer Stein Journal (beerstein.net). beerstein.net
  7. PrimaryGesetz über den Feingehalt der Gold- und Silberwaren (FeinGehG), gesetze-im-internet.de. gesetze-im-internet.de
  8. Primary15 U.S. Code § 296 (LII, Cornell). law.cornell.edu
  9. Primary15 U.S. Code § 297 (LII, Cornell). law.cornell.edu
  10. PrimaryHallmarking Guidance Notes, UK Assay Offices, November 2022 (GOV.UK). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
  11. SecondaryDenmark silver marks, silvercollection.it. silvercollection.it
  12. PrimaryHallmarking Convention, Compilation of Acts of the Standing Committee, PMC/W 1/2001 (Rev. 26). hallmarkingconvention.org
  13. SecondaryDecrypting British silverplate marks, silvercollection.it. silvercollection.it
  14. SecondaryNickel Silvers, Copper Development Association. copper.org
  15. SecondaryAnnual UK Hallmarking Figures for 2023, The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office. assayofficelondon.co.uk
  16. SecondaryMethods for Determining Gold Content of Jewelry Metals, Gems & Gemology, Winter 1992 (GIA). gia.edu
  17. Primary15 U.S. Code § 295 (LII, Cornell). law.cornell.edu
  18. PrimaryFTC, Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries, 83 FR 40667 (Aug. 16, 2018). federalregister.gov