Identifying & Stamping 18K Gold Jewelry in the UK

Question
Hi, In live in the UK and I recently bought a white gold ring and necklass in Turkey. They said they were 18K gold but there is only a tiny stamp which I cannot read. How can I get this jewellery stamped in the UK, how much would it cost approx and will it lose any value by stamping it?

Answer
Dear Hannah,

Congratulations on your new ring and necklace. I trust you had a great time in Turkey as well!

You will need to go to a local jeweler (as opposed to a chain store such as Zale's), one who actually makes jewelry, to have your pieces tested. Ask first if they can stamp your items to reflect the results of your tests. They should then rub your jewelry in a few places each on a special smooth stone. This will leave traces of the gold on the stone and will not harm your jewelry. You do a few places to make certain that all parts of the pieces are gold not just, say, the clasp of a necklace. They will then use acid to test the traces to determine the gold content.

The stamping is done using a prepared "punch" to tap the stamp into the piece. Properly done and placed it will not do harm to your necklace and ring. The entire process should not cost more than a few pounds for each item.

Best of luck,

         Rich