FraudHawk buyer protection · Gold
Gold-colored is not gold throughout.
GP, GEP, HGE, GF, RGP, vermeil, overlay, bonded, and rolled gold all describe a layer or construction. This field guide shows what the marks actually promise—and what they do not.
One rule worth remembering
Read the whole phrase—not the shiniest word.
If gold is followed by plated, filled, rolled, overlay, clad, bonded, electroplate, vermeil, tone, or color, do not price the whole object as solid karat gold.
The ten-second triage
If you see these, stop and read again.
These marks are not necessarily dishonest. They are warnings that the object is not made throughout of gold. The rip-off happens when the seller lets you believe otherwise.
GPG.P.Gold platedGold plate
Gold is on the surface of a different metal. The gold layer may be very thin and can wear through.
Do not pay a solid-gold price.GEPHGEHGEPElectroplated or heavy electroplated gold
These abbreviations indicate gold applied to the surface, usually by electroplating. “Heavy” describes the coating—not a solid-gold body.
Value the base item and workmanship, not its weight as gold.GFGold filled1/20 12K GFMechanically bonded gold layer
Gold filled is not solid gold and is not a hollow object filled with gold. In current U.S. guidance, the gold layer must account for at least 1/20 of the metal weight to use “gold filled.”
Often more durable than ordinary plate, but never price it as solid karat gold.RGPRolled gold plateGold overlayMechanically applied gold layer
A real gold-alloy layer is mechanically bonded to base metal. Fraction marks such as 1/40 describe the layer’s weight share under U.S. guidance.
Not solid gold; judge condition because worn edges can expose the base metal.Gold cladBonded goldLayered goldCoating language that needs specifics
These phrases signal a layered construction or can be marketing language. Definitions and legal usage vary by market.
Ask for the base metal, gold fineness, layer thickness or weight fraction, and written return terms.PVDIPGIon platedFinish or appearance
These describe a coating process or color. They do not claim that the article is solid gold.
Treat as fashion jewelry unless a separate, credible karat hallmark applies to the body.Know what is under the surface
The gold construction ladder
- 01 · Throughout
Karat gold alloy
The metal body is a stated gold alloy. It may still be hollow, which affects weight and durability but is different from plating.
- 02 · Bonded layer
Gold filled, rolled, or overlay
A real gold-alloy layer is mechanically attached to base metal. More durable than a flash finish, but not solid gold.
- 03 · Surface
Electroplate, PVD, tone, or color
Gold or gold-colored material is a surface finish. The underlying body supplies nearly all the weight.
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The mark dictionary
Marks identify a claim or construction; they do not authenticate themselves. Context, maker, country, date, and testing still matter.
GPG.P.Gold platedGold plate
Gold is on the surface of a different metal. The gold layer may be very thin and can wear through.
Do not pay a solid-gold price.GEPHGEHGEPHGPElectroplated or heavy electroplated gold
These abbreviations indicate gold applied to the surface, usually by electroplating. “Heavy” describes the coating—not a solid-gold body.
Value the base item and workmanship, not its weight as gold.GFGold filled1/20 12K GF1/20 14K GFMechanically bonded gold layer
Gold filled is not solid gold and is not a hollow object filled with gold. In current U.S. guidance, the gold layer must account for at least 1/20 of the metal weight to use “gold filled.”
Often more durable than ordinary plate, but never price it as solid karat gold.RGPRolled gold plateGold overlayGOMechanically applied gold layer
A real gold-alloy layer is mechanically bonded to base metal. Fraction marks such as 1/40 describe the layer’s weight share under U.S. guidance.
Not solid gold; judge condition because worn edges can expose the base metal.VermeilGold vermeilSilver giltGold over silver
U.S. vermeil is sterling silver coated on significant surfaces with gold of at least 10K and a specified minimum thickness. It contains precious metal, but it is not solid gold.
Check the silver hallmark and disclosure of the gold coating.Gold cladBonded goldLayered goldGold fusedCoating language that needs specifics
These phrases signal a layered construction or can be marketing language. Definitions and legal usage vary by market.
Ask for the base metal, gold fineness, layer thickness or weight fraction, and written return terms.PVDIPGIon platedGold toneGold colorFinish or appearance
These describe a coating process or color. They do not claim that the article is solid gold.
Treat as fashion jewelry unless a separate, credible karat hallmark applies to the body.375 / 9K417 / 10K585 / 14K750 / 18K916 / 22K999 / 24KCommon gold-fineness claims
Karat marks divide purity into 24 parts; millesimal marks state parts per 1,000. National standards and rounding conventions vary.
Promising—not proof. Match the fineness to a maker or assay mark and test high-value pieces.14KP18KPPlumbUsually “karat plumb,” not plated
On many U.S. pieces, P immediately after the karat number means the alloy is at least the stated karat. It should not be confused with GP or GEP.
Read the exact order of letters, then verify the maker and metal.HollowHollow centerTubingKarat gold with an interior space
A hollow 14K piece can still be 14K gold in its metal walls, but it contains less gold by total volume and dents more easily than a comparable solid form.
Weigh and price it as the item actually constructed; do not equate “hollow” with plated.Good signs, not a guarantee
What a reassuring gold mark looks like
Look for a coherent karat or millesimal fineness mark plus an accountable maker, sponsor, or assay mark. A lone 18K or 750 can be copied, added later, or applied only to one component.
The qualifier may be in another language
Foreign words that change the deal
These are practical search terms, not a country-by-country hallmark registry. Spelling, grammar, abbreviations, and legal definitions vary; use the complete mark and its jurisdiction.
| Language | Words to notice | Usually signals |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | chapado en oro · bañado en oro · dorado | gold-plated / gold bath · gilded |
| French | plaqué or · doré · doublé | gold-plated · gilded · rolled/bonded gold |
| German | vergoldet · Goldauflage · Doublé | gold-plated · gold overlay · rolled/bonded gold |
| Italian | dorato · placcato oro | gilded · gold-plated |
| Portuguese | banhado a ouro · folheado a ouro | gold-plated / gold bath · gold overlay |
| Dutch | verguld | gold-plated / gilded |
| Swedish | förgylld | gold-plated / gilded |
| Danish | forgyldt | gold-plated / gilded |
| Norwegian | forgylt | gold-plated / gilded |
| Finnish | kullattu | gold-plated / gilded |
| Polish | pozłacany | gold-plated |
| Czech | pozlacený | gold-plated |
| Russian | позолоченный | gold-plated |
| Ukrainian | позолочений | gold-plated |
| Turkish | altın kaplama | gold-plated |
| Arabic | مطلي بالذهب | gold-plated |
| Chinese | 镀金 / 鍍金 | gold-plated |
| Japanese | 金メッキ | gold-plated |
| Korean | 금도금 | gold-plated |
36-language pocket glossary
Silver and gold around the world
Seeing the noun for silver or gold does not establish purity. Use this table to recognize a listing, then look for the qualifier—plated, filled, colored, bonded, or a local equivalent.
| Language | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | فضة | ذهب |
| Bengali | রূপা | সোনা |
| Chinese · simplified | 银 | 金 |
| Chinese · traditional | 銀 | 金 |
| Czech | stříbro | zlato |
| Danish | sølv | guld |
| Dutch | zilver | goud |
| English | silver | gold |
| Filipino / Tagalog | pilak | ginto |
| Finnish | hopea | kulta |
| French | argent | or |
| German | Silber | Gold |
| Greek | ασήμι | χρυσός |
| Hebrew | כסף | זהב |
| Hindi | चाँदी | सोना |
| Hungarian | ezüst | arany |
| Indonesian | perak | emas |
| Italian | argento | oro |
| Japanese | 銀 | 金 |
| Korean | 은 | 금 |
| Malay | perak | emas |
| Norwegian | sølv | gull |
| Persian | نقره | طلا |
| Polish | srebro | złoto |
| Portuguese | prata | ouro |
| Romanian | argint | aur |
| Russian | серебро | золото |
| Slovak | striebro | zlato |
| Spanish | plata | oro |
| Swahili | fedha | dhahabu |
| Swedish | silver | guld |
| Thai | เงิน | ทอง |
| Turkish | gümüş | altın |
| Ukrainian | срібло | золото |
| Urdu | چاندی | سونا |
| Vietnamese | bạc | vàng |
Do not treat a translated word as a hallmark. A hallmark is a jurisdiction-specific system of marks; a metal name is only a word.
Before money changes hands
A practical verification routine
- 1
Read the letters immediately before and after the karat number: 14K, 14KP, 14K GF, and 14K GEP are not equivalent.
- 2
Ask for the base metal, gold fineness, and whether the article is solid, hollow, filled, rolled, or plated—in writing.
- 3
Inspect clasps, edges, ring interiors, prongs, and worn spots for color change or exposed base metal.
- 4
Match every component: chains, clasps, charms, backs, and soldered parts may differ.
- 5
For meaningful money, obtain a professional test that accounts for plating and samples more than one area.
- 6
Price from verified karat and verified net gold-alloy weight—not color, heft, or a stamp alone.
No single home trick proves purity.
Magnets, ice, sound, color, tarnish, density, and acid can contribute clues, but geometry, hidden cores, solder, surface treatments, and plating can defeat simple tests. Acid testing can damage an object and uses hazardous chemicals. Professional buyers combine visual inspection, provenance, measurements, and appropriate testing; even surface XRF can be misled by plating if used without care.
Definitions, not folklore
Primary and institutional sources
- U.S. FTC Jewelry Guides, 16 CFR Part 23
Current U.S. descriptions for karat gold, gold plate, gold filled, rolled gold plate, electroplate, and vermeil.
- British Hallmarking Council practical guidance
How complete U.K. hallmarks work and why a fineness number alone is not a full hallmark.
- British Hallmarking Council: gold-plated silver descriptions
Why gold-plated silver should be described as plated and hallmarked as silver in the U.K.
- GIA: Gold-Plated Gold
A practical warning that surface plating can mislead surface-sensitive tests, including XRF, without visual inspection.
- GIA: Methods for Determining the Gold Content of Jewelry Metals
Professional comparison of touchstone, chemical, electronic, density, and XRF testing limitations.
Educational guide, not legal advice, an appraisal, or an authenticity opinion. Marking laws, coverage, exemptions, and recognized fineness standards vary by jurisdiction and period. Country-rule research updated October 2, 2026.