When you want to sell a piece of gold jewelry, one detail often comes up: the hallmark.
This small symbol indicates the metal’s purity: 750 (18K), 585 (14K), 375 (9K), etc.
But then, what about jewelry that has any hallmark? Is it still valuable?
The answer is: yes, sometimes, but it depends on several factors.
In this article, our experts at Agence de l’Or explain everything.
Why doesn't some jewelry have a hallmark?
There are several reasons:
- Antique jewelry made before hallmarking became mandatory
- Imports from countries that do not use the same standards
- Handcrafted jewelry made by a small designer
- Wear and tear: The stamp may become worn over time
- Repair or resizing that has erased the marking
- Or… simply a piece of jewelry that isn’t made of gold
That is why jewelry without a hallmark is not automatically a fake, but requires professional verification.
Can a piece of jewelry without a hallmark be made of gold?
Yes!
It’s not uncommon to come across jewelry that’s actually made of gold but has no visible markings.
However, the absence of a hallmark makes it impossible to verify authenticity by sight alone, which is why testing is so important.
How can you verify the authenticity of jewelry without a hallmark?
At Agence de l’Or, we appraise your jewelry using professional and quick tests:
✔️ Touchstone test
It allows the actual purity of the metal to be determined using various acids.
✔️ Spectrometer analysis (precise analysis)
A high-precision machine that determines the exact composition of the jewelry.
→ 100% reliable.
✔️ Magnetic test
Gold is a non-ferrous metal, so it is never magnetic.
However, be careful: ➡ Jewelry that isn’t magnetic isn’t necessarily made of gold.
Other non-precious metals are also non-magnetic.
Can a piece of jewelry without a hallmark be valuable?
Yes, if it is genuine gold, it will be bought back in the same way as hallmarked jewelry:
→ by weight
→ based on the actual purity of the metal
→ at current market price
However:
❌ If it is gold-plated jewelry
❌ Or a gold-colored metal with no value
It cannot be bought back as gold.
Jewelry without a hallmark is often… a pleasant surprise!
Many people think that their “unmarked” jewelry is worthless…
As a result, they leave it sitting in a box for years.
However, we very often encounter:
- rings made of genuine 18K gold
- vintage earrings
- gold necklaces
The only way to find out is to bring them in for a free analysis.
At Agence de l’Or, we provide free appraisals of your jewelry, whether it’s hallmarked or not
Do you have a piece of jewelry without a hallmark?
→ Stop by one of our locations:
📍 Braine-l’Alleud
📍 Rixensart
📍 Wavre
📍 Saint-Pierre-Woluwe
We'll test it right in front of you:
✔ Free of charge
✔ Fast
✔ No obligation
✔ At today's best price if you want to sell
Jewelry without a hallmark can be worth a lot: have it appraised!
The absence of a hallmark does not mean the item is worthless or that it is guaranteed to be gold.
Only a professional analysis can confirm the actual purity of the jewelry.
At Agence de l’Or, we offer you a detailed, free appraisal to help you avoid unpleasant surprises… or to reveal a pleasant one!
Come see us and find out what your jewelry is really worth.