Buying Gold Jewelry in Canada: Hallmarks, Karat Stamps, and Your Rights

If you've ever held a piece of gold jewelry up to the light and squinted at the tiny numbers stamped on the inside, you've seen a hallmark. Those numbers aren't decoration. In Canada, they're the difference between a piece that's legally allowed to be called gold and one that isn't, and the rules behind them are governed by federal law most buyers have never heard of. Here's what every stamp means, what your rights are as a Canadian buyer, and what to do if a piece doesn't have a mark at all.

What Canadian law actually requires

Gold sold in Canada is regulated by the Precious Metals Marking Act, a federal law administered by the Competition Bureau Canada. The Act doesn't require jewelry to be marked, but if a piece is marked with a quality claim, that claim has to be accurate and accompanied by a recognized trademark. Lying about purity is a federal offence, with fines up to $500 per violation on summary conviction, and additional consequences under the Competition Act for repeated or commercial-scale violations.

What this means in plain language: if a Canadian retailer stamps a ring "14K," that ring legally has to be at least 58.3% pure gold. If it's not, the seller is committing a federal offence. This is different from countries with weaker enforcement, where karat stamps are sometimes aspirational at best.

The decimal stamps you'll see most often

Canada (and most of Europe) uses a three-digit decimal mark called the millesimal fineness. It's the parts-per-thousand of pure gold in the alloy. The K stamp is the imperial equivalent that North American buyers grew up with. They mean the same thing.

Decimal stamp	K stamp	Pure gold content	Notes
375	9K	37.5%	Common in UK; rare in Canadian retail
417	10K	41.7%	Lowest karat legally callable "gold" in Canada and the US
583 or 585	14K	58.3%	Most common karat sold in North America
750	18K	75.0%	Standard for European fine jewelry; common in Canada
916 or 917	22K	91.7%	Common in South Asian jewelry traditions
999	24K	99.9%	Pure gold; too soft for jewelry, used for bullion

Source: Competition Bureau Canada, Detailed Requirements for Marking of Precious Metals. The Bureau accepts both 583 and 585 as valid 14K marks.

What "GP", "GF", "RGP", and "1/20" mean (and why they're not gold)

If a stamp has letters after the karat number, the piece probably isn't solid gold. These are the most common qualifiers and what they actually mean:

• GP — Gold Plated. A thin layer of gold deposited on a base metal (usually brass or copper). Plating is typically 0.5–2.5 microns thick. It wears off in months to a few years depending on how hard you wear the piece. Not solid gold.
• GEP — Gold Electroplated. Same as GP, applied via electricity instead of heat. Identical wear characteristics.
• HGE or HGP — Heavy Gold Electroplate. Slightly thicker plating (2.5+ microns). Lasts longer than standard plate but is still not solid gold.
• GF — Gold Filled. A real layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal core. Must be at least 5% of total weight. Lasts decades and feels closer to solid gold than plating, but is still not solid.
• RGP — Rolled Gold Plate. Similar to gold filled but the gold layer is thinner. Less than 5% gold by weight.
• 1/20 12K GF — Fractional gold-filled marking. The fraction is the proportion of gold by weight (here, 1/20 = 5%), and the karat is the purity of the gold layer itself.
• 14K HGE — Heavy gold electroplate of 14K thickness. The gold layer is 14K, but the piece is plated, not solid.

None of these are wrong or fraudulent — they're disclosure marks, and they're protecting you. The problem is when a seller verbally calls a piece "14K gold" but the stamp says "14K GP." You're being told one thing and shown another.

What about white gold and rose gold?

The hallmark refers to the percentage of pure gold, not the colour. A 585 stamp on white gold and a 585 stamp on yellow gold both mean 58.3% pure gold. The colour comes from what's in the other 41.7%:

• Yellow gold alloy: copper + silver, often with a touch of zinc
• White gold alloy: nickel or palladium with silver/zinc, then rhodium plated to look bright white
• Rose gold alloy: more copper than yellow gold (the copper is what makes it pink)

This is why a 14K rose gold ring is pinker than an 18K rose gold ring of the same design — the 14K has more alloy room for copper.

The maker's mark: required when there's a quality stamp

If a piece is marked with a quality claim like 585 or 14K, Canadian law requires it to also bear a registered trademark identifying the maker or seller. The trademark is what makes the quality claim legally accountable. If something goes wrong, the trademark tells the regulator who's responsible.

Trademarks are usually a small symbol — a letter, a logo, a stylized initial — stamped near the karat mark. There are some exemptions: pieces hallmarked under UK or other foreign-government systems can use those countries' marks instead.

What this looks like in practice: a properly marked Canadian ring will have two stamps close together: the karat mark (e.g., 585) and a maker's mark (e.g., a small logo or letter). If you see only the karat mark with no trademark next to it, the piece is technically out of compliance with Canadian marking law.

What to do if a piece has no marks at all

Unmarked pieces are not necessarily fake. Many older pieces, custom one-off designs, and pieces made in jurisdictions with different marking conventions never received a stamp. Unmarked also doesn't mean unsellable — Canadian law only restricts false claims, not absent claims.

If you're buying an unmarked piece and you want to verify the gold content, you have three options:

1. Ask the seller for written documentation. A reputable jeweler will tell you exactly what the metal is and put it in writing on the receipt or appraisal. If they refuse or get vague, walk away.
2. Independent appraisal. An accredited appraiser can test the metal non-destructively (using XRF analysis) and give you a written report. Costs around $50–$150 in Metro Vancouver depending on complexity.
3. Acid testing or XRF at a jeweller. Most full-service jewellers (including us) can test an unmarked piece in a few minutes for a small fee or free for customers. Acid testing leaves a tiny invisible mark; XRF is completely non-destructive.

Five hallmark scams Canadian buyers should know about

None of these are common from established Canadian jewellers. They show up most often in flea markets, online marketplaces, vacation jewelry purchases, and "estate sale" pop-ups. Watch for them:

1. Karat number with no trademark. Properly marked Canadian-sold gold has both. A solo karat number with no maker's mark is a red flag, especially on contemporary pieces.
2. Stamp with letters after the karat. If you see "14K GP" or "14K HGE" but the seller is calling it "14K gold," they're disclosing on the stamp and lying with their words.
3. "14K Gold-Tone" or "14K Color". These are not karat marks. They describe the colour, not the metal. Often used on costume pieces.
4. Plated pieces sold as antique or vintage. Plating wears off. A century-old plated piece will have most of the plating worn through to the base metal underneath.
5. Stamps that don't match Canadian standards. "9K" or "375" is legal in the UK but uncommon in Canadian retail. It's not fake, but it's a clue you're looking at imported or vintage UK stock.

Your rights as a Canadian gold buyer

If you buy a piece of jewelry stamped with a quality claim and the claim turns out to be false, you have multiple legal recourses:

• Return and refund from the seller, under standard consumer protection law in your province. Misrepresentation entitles you to a remedy.
• Complaint to the Competition Bureau. The Bureau enforces the Precious Metals Marking Act and accepts complaints from individual consumers. Violations can lead to fines and prosecution.
• Provincial consumer protection complaint. In BC, this is handled by Consumer Protection BC. They investigate misleading sales practices.
• Civil claim if the dollar amount justifies it, especially for high-value pieces sold under false pretenses.

The Competition Bureau is the most direct path for marking violations specifically, because that's the law that applies. Don't go to small claims court for a $50 plated chain — but absolutely do for a $5,000 "18K" ring that turns out to be plated brass.

Key Takeaways

• Canadian law requires gold marked with a quality claim to be accurate and to bear a registered trademark next to the karat stamp.
• Decimal marks (375, 417, 585, 750) and K marks (9K, 10K, 14K, 18K) mean the same thing. 585 = 14K.
• Letters after the karat (GP, GF, HGE, RGP) mean the piece is not solid gold. They're disclosure marks, not fraud.
• If you see a karat stamp without a trademark next to it, the piece is technically out of compliance with Canadian marking law.
• For unmarked pieces, get written documentation from the seller, an independent appraisal, or an XRF test at a full-service jeweller.
• If a quality claim turns out to be false, you can complain to the Competition Bureau under the Precious Metals Marking Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 585 mean on gold jewelry in Canada?

585 means the piece is 58.3% pure gold by weight, which is the same as 14K. The Competition Bureau Canada accepts both 583 and 585 as valid quality marks for 14K gold under the Precious Metals Marking Act. A properly marked Canadian piece should have both a 585 stamp and a registered maker's trademark stamped next to it.

Is 585 better than 750?

Neither is universally better. 585 (14K) is 58.3% pure gold and is harder, more scratch-resistant, and less expensive. 750 (18K) is 75% pure gold and has a richer yellow colour and is gentler on sensitive skin. For daily-wear rings, 585 is usually the better choice. For occasional-wear pieces or buyers with nickel allergies, 750 is preferred.

Is unmarked gold real gold?

Possibly. Unmarked gold is not automatically fake — many older pieces, custom designs, and pieces from jurisdictions with different marking conventions never received a hallmark. To verify, ask the seller for written documentation of the metal content, or have the piece tested by an accredited appraiser using XRF analysis. Acid testing at a full-service jeweller is also an option.

What law governs gold quality marks in Canada?

Gold quality marking in Canada is governed by the Precious Metals Marking Act, a federal law administered by the Competition Bureau Canada. The Act doesn't require jewelry to be marked, but any quality claim that is stamped (such as 585 or 14K) must be accurate and accompanied by a registered trademark. False marking can result in fines up to $500 per violation on summary conviction.

What does GP or GF mean on a gold stamp?

GP means Gold Plated — a thin layer of gold deposited on a base metal core. GF means Gold Filled — a thicker layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal, required to be at least 5% gold by weight. Neither GP nor GF is solid gold. They're legal disclosure marks indicating the piece has a gold surface over a non-gold base.

How can I check if my gold is real in Vancouver?

The most reliable way is to bring the piece to a full-service jeweller for testing. Most Vancouver-area jewellers can test gold using XRF (a non-destructive scan that reads the metal composition) or acid testing (which leaves a tiny invisible mark). At our Coquitlam shop we test pieces in a few minutes — free for our customers and available for a small fee otherwise. Independent accredited appraisers in Metro Vancouver typically charge $50–$150 for a written report.

Sources

• Competition Bureau Canada — Precious Metals Marking
• Competition Bureau Canada — Detailed Requirements for Marking of Precious Metals
• Precious Metals Marking Act, RSC 1985, c. P-19

Sourced April 2026. Federal regulations are stable but enforcement guidance can change. If you need current legal advice on a specific case, consult the Competition Bureau directly or a Canadian lawyer.

Visit Vanhess

If you have a piece you want tested, or you're shopping for gold and want to know what every stamp on every ring in our case actually means, come in. We're at 2929 Barnet Highway, Unit 2424, Coquitlam, open Monday to Saturday. Reach us at (604) 653-6449. Browse our in-house ring collection — every piece is properly marked under Canadian standards, with the karat and maker's stamp visible on inspection.