Gold Hallmarks Vary Around the World

When people refer to the gold standard, they use that phrase to indicate something is well made. All over the world, gold is recognized for its brilliance and beauty. However, gold is not measured in the same way all over the world. The laws that pertain to gold hallmarks are not standardized. Plus, every piece of jewelry, especially jewelry that is very old, will not have a hallmark.

In Great Britain, gold jewelry may be marked with a regional symbol. This means that there is not one single symbol that indicates that gold jewelry was made in Great Britain. Sometimes jewelry that was made in London is marked with the head of a lion, for instance.

Some countries use a mark to indicate that a piece of gold jewelry was made in that country, but the markings are not obvious if you don't recognize them. In Austria, gold jewelry is marked with a "W" placed inside of a crown and the crown may also resemble the letter "W." In Czechoslovakia, they use the letter "P" in box to indicate the jewelry was made there.

If you have gold jewelry that came from another country, it may be difficult to "guesstimate" just how much it is worth before you sell it. This is why you should consult with an expert gold buyer. Don't sell it at a yard sale or put it up for sale on an internet site. Take it to a gold buyer. When it comes to selling your gold, you want to take it to a gold buyer who can recognize its worth and compensate you accordingly.