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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Before you buy or sell jewelry, verify the metal and gemstone claims, inspect the piece’s condition, and put important descriptions and transaction terms in writing. A stamp or sales label is useful evidence, but it is not a guarantee of authenticity, quality, or resale value. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidance below reflects U.S. rules and consumer advice; other countries may have different hallmarking and disclosure requirements.
How to check precious-metal claims
Start with the metal description and any stamp on the item. In the United States, FTC guidance explains what common marks mean and what to ask a seller. A mark is a clue, not a substitute for a qualified assessment when authenticity or value is disputed.
Gold
Karat describes the proportion of gold in an alloy: higher karat means a greater gold content. If a gold item bears a karat quality mark, FTC consumer guidance says the responsible company’s name or U.S.-registered trademark should appear with it. The FTC puts its advice plainly: “If you’re thinking about buying a piece of gold jewelry but don’t see a trademark along with the karat mark, don’t buy it.” This warning concerns a U.S. gold quality mark; consult the FTC’s precious-metal buying guidance for context.
Silver
In FTC guidance, “silver,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver” describe products containing 92.5% pure silver. The mark 925 expresses that fineness in parts per thousand. Ask what the remaining material is if the composition matters to your decision.
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Platinum
Under FTC consumer guidance, an item must be at least 95% pure platinum to be described simply as platinum. A qualified description may be needed below that threshold, and alloy composition can affect how a piece performs. For sellers, FTC guidance highlights potentially material properties of platinum alloyed with base metals, including durability, repairability, tarnish resistance, and whether a hypoallergenic claim is supported. See the FTC’s advertising guidance for platinum jewelry.
What to ask about gemstones
Ask the seller to identify the stone as natural, laboratory-created, or imitation, and whether it has been treated. These terms describe different things: a laboratory-created gem is not the same as a natural gem, while an imitation is a different material made to resemble a gem. FTC guidance on buying gemstones, diamonds, and pearls advises consumers to understand gemstone descriptions and treatments.
- What is the stone, and is it natural, laboratory-created, or an imitation?
- Has it been treated? If so, what treatment was used?
- Is the treatment permanent, and does it require special care?
- How does the treatment affect the seller’s description or the item’s represented value?
Have material claims recorded on the receipt or other sales paperwork, rather than relying only on a verbal description. FTC seller guidance also calls for truthful representations about material, quality, treatment, origin, and other product characteristics. See the FTC guidance on advertising diamonds, gemstones, and pearls and its broader Jewelry Guides.
Inspect condition and understand the sale terms
Check the piece in good light before buying. Look for loose or damaged stones, chips, abraded facets, and visible surface damage. A 10x jeweler’s loupe can make close inspection easier; it cannot authenticate a stone, grade it, or establish its value. GIA recommends examining jewelry and choosing a seller carefully in its buying advice.
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When an independent report or appraisal is useful
For a significant gemstone, consider asking for an independent identification or grading report. For an antique or particularly expensive piece, GIA recommends considering an appraisal. Choose documentation by what you need it to establish: these services have different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
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- Identification: addresses what material or gem is present and may disclose detectable treatments, depending on the service.
- Grading: assesses gemstone characteristics under the report provider’s stated system and scope.
- Jewelry assessment: may document details such as metal testing, weight, marks, and a photograph; check the service’s exact scope.
- Appraisal: provides an assessed value for a stated purpose, such as replacement, rather than a guaranteed resale price.
GIA describes its available services under Analysis & Grading. Review the current service description before choosing one. If you need a valuation for insurance, resale, or another specific purpose, tell the appraiser what the valuation is for and confirm that the document addresses that purpose.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to sell jewelry accurately
Describe what you can support, not what you hope a buyer will infer. State the metal and fineness accurately; identify gemstones and disclose known treatments; and avoid unsupported claims about quality, origin, durability, or value. Keep any report, appraisal, purchase record, or other document available, and distinguish what it actually establishes from claims it does not make.
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Platinum alloy claims deserve particular care: properties such as durability, repairability, tarnish resistance, or hypoallergenic performance can matter to a buyer, so do not imply them without support. The FTC’s platinum advertising guidance and Jewelry Guides explain U.S. seller obligations. If you are outside the United States, check local consumer-protection and hallmarking rules.
Compare the whole piece, not just its metal weight
When comparing jewelry, consider metal fineness and construction, the gemstone’s identity and treatment, condition, documentation, return terms, and your purpose—buying, reselling, insuring, or caring for the piece. Design and workmanship can matter, especially for antique or distinctive jewelry, so metal weight alone is not a complete measure of what a piece is worth. A narrow FTC consumer brochure discussed weight and gold price as one comparison approach for simple gold jewelry without special design or workmanship; that advice should not be generalized to every piece.
For care, identify the gem and any treatment before choosing a cleaning method. Chemicals can harm some metals and gems, and ultrasonic cleaning is not safe for all jewelry. GIA’s jewelry care advice explains why cleaning methods should be chosen for the specific material.
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