QuestionHi Thomas! Thanks so much for making yourself available for questions. I found a piece on ebay that is marked 720 12K. The picture was not clear but the seller said that is how it is marked. I am a little apprehensive since 1/20 could look like 720 if it is not stamped clearly. So my question is....is 720 the gold content mark for 12K? Thanks......Sincerely Michele Squires
AnswerMichele, thanks for this question. You are astute to notice that the marking may very well indicate gold filled.
Surely a question to the seller asking directly if the item is gold filled would be answered. That would be my first recourse.
As for the mark for 12k gold, the way to figure the numerical mark is simply to divide the number by 24.* 24k represents pure and the karat is a part of that. 12/24 =0.500 The mark would be 500, not 720. I suspect the item is gold filled and would be properly marked (or read!) to be 1/20 12k gf.
12karat is not a normal karat for jewelry gold. While the UK will use 9k and Mexico will sometimes have 8k, 12k is simply not seen in normal dealings with jewelry.
*there is one exception to finding the number by dividing the karat by 24. That is 14k. You see, while legally 583 is the requirement, due to European influence 14k is actually made a tiny, tiny bit more pure and the mark is 585.
I sure hope this helps. God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
June 9, 2008 8:39pm
