Please note that due to the heavy fluctuations in the gold market, sometimes we may not be able to honour the prices listed on the website.
Please note that due to the heavy fluctuations in the gold market, sometimes we may not be able to honour the prices listed on the website.
You’re clearing out a late relative’s jewellery box and find three pieces: a 916 chain, a 375 signet ring, and a bangle stamped “18K HGE.” Three stamps, three wildly different values, and one of them is worth almost nothing.
Australia has no government hallmarking system, so decoding gold hallmarks Australia-wide relies on your own eye, not a government tester, and that is the difference between a fair price and a bad one. This hallmark guide breaks down exactly what gold jewellery stamps mean, and what each one is really worth.
A gold hallmark is a small stamp showing the metal’s purity, and sometimes its maker and origin.
A true hallmark means an independent assay office tested the metal and confirmed what it claims to be. Australia has no government assay offices and no compulsory hallmarking law, so most marks on jewellery here are applied by the manufacturer itself, not by an independent tester. That makes most Australian gold stamps a claim, not a certificate.
A ring stamped 750 by its maker might genuinely be 18 carat. It might not be, and there’s no legal body checking either way. This is why professional testing decides the payout on your gold, not the stamp alone.
| Stamp | Karat | Pure gold | Commonly seen on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 / 999.9 | 24ct | 99.9% | Bullion bars and coins |
| 916 | 22ct | 91.6% | Indian, Middle Eastern, Singaporean jewellery |
| 875 | 21ct | 87.5% | Gulf states, Turkey |
| 750 | 18ct | 75.0% | European and luxury fine jewellery |
| 625 | 15ct | 62.5% | British, pre-1932, indicates an antique |
| 585 | 14ct | 58.5% | US and European rings, everyday fine jewellery |
| 417 | 10ct | 41.7% | US-made jewellery |
| 375 | 9ct | 37.5% | The Australian and British standard |
375 is Australia’s most common gold stamp, and it’s genuine gold, just at a lower purity than you’ll see elsewhere.
Most gold sitting in Australian jewellery boxes was made overseas, and every country marks it differently.
| Origin | What you’ll see | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| India | BIS triangle logo + 916 or 750 + a 6-character HUID code | Verify the HUID is free in the BIS CARE app, it works from Australia |
| United Kingdom | Sponsor’s mark, fineness, assay office town mark, date letter | Leopard’s head = London, anchor = Birmingham, rose = Sheffield |
| Europe | Millesimal number, often a Common Control Mark | Italy adds a numeric maker’s mark plus a province code |
| Middle East / Türkiye | 875, 916 or 999 | High purity, usually little or no maker’s mark |
| China / Hong Kong | Au999, 990, or the characters 足金 | “Chuk kam” means near-pure gold |
Leverage a free XRF purity test and a written quote on the spot, done in front of you.
Bring a competitor’s quote too, we’re happy to compare it…
Some gold plated stamps look like purity marks but only describe a coating over a base metal.
| Mark | Meaning | Melt value |
|---|---|---|
| GP / GEP | Gold plated or electroplated, a very thin layer | Negligible |
| HGE | Heavy gold electroplate, a thicker coating | Negligible |
| RGP | Rolled gold plate, bonded but below the gold-filled threshold | Very low |
| GF (e.g. 1/20 12K GF) | Gold filled, gold is at least 5% of total weight | Low but real |
| 925 + gold colour | Vermeil: gold over sterling silver | Silver value |
On “18K HGE,” the 18K describes the coating, not the item.
Spotting a fake gold hallmark comes down to a few warning signs, worth checking before you trust any stamp:
Gold with no hallmark isn’t automatically fake. Handmade, pre-1950s, resized and worn pieces are often unstamped for entirely legitimate reasons.
Testing methods vary too. XRF gold testing in Melbourne dealerships is the industry standard: non-destructive, with a full alloy breakdown in seconds. Acid and streak tests work but can mark the piece. Electronic testers are useful for screening only. Specific gravity testing catches core-filled fakes that pass a surface scan.
What Your Hallmark is Actually Worth
Under Australian GST law, gold only qualifies as GST-free “precious metal” if it’s at least 99.5% fine and in investment form: a bar, wafer or coin bearing a mark accepted as identifying and guaranteeing its fineness and quality. The stamp itself is part of the legal test for GST-free status.
For bars, look for the refiner’s name, weight, fineness, serial number and assay card. Keep every record and assay card for capital gains purposes. Our full guide to gold bullion tax in Australia covers GST and CGT in detail.
This is general information only and not tax or financial advice. Speak to a registered tax agent.
No. Australia has no compulsory hallmarking law and no government assay offices. Marking is voluntary and largely self-applied by the manufacturer.
375 means 37.5% pure gold, or 9 carat, Australia’s most common gold standard. It’s genuine gold with real resale value.
Yes. 916 means 91.6% pure gold, which equals 22 carat. It’s the standard for Indian and Middle Eastern jewellery.
9ct gold is 37.5% pure gold, Australia’s most common standard, stamped 375. 18ct gold is 75% pure gold, stamped 750, and typically used in European and luxury fine jewellery. At the same weight, an 18ct piece contains double the pure gold of a 9ct piece, so it carries roughly double the melt value, though it’s also softer and more prone to scratching than 9ct.
Yes. Handmade, antique, resized and imported pieces are often unmarked. XRF testing confirms purity without damaging the item.
In Australia, a hallmark is a claim, not a certificate. Read correctly, though, it still tells you where a piece came from and what it’s worth. Purity, weight and the day’s gold price set the final number, not the stamp alone. Professional testing removes uncertainty before accepting an offer. This hallmark guide’s practical takeaway is simple: get any piece tested before you sell gold across Melbourne.
If you’re ready to sell gold, we’re here to help. Bring any piece in for a free XRF test and written quote on the spot, and bring a competitor’s quote too, we’re happy to compare it.
Sharma Bullion, your local cash for gold Melbourne destination: Suite 808A, Level 8, 125 Swanston St, Melbourne CBD. Call 0488 786 680.
Gold Buyers Sharma provides certified gold products, transparent pricing and trusted guidance for investors across Melbourne.