AboutThomas Expertise Have a question about jewelry repair or working with precious metal jewelry and gemstones? I am a working professional bench jeweler, involved everyday with setting stones in mountings, designing and making jewelry, repairing and limited custom manufacture. Over 30 years experience. If you work with jewelry as a hobby or as a profession, I might be able to help. I deal with the retail business, not mass production. Ask privately if you wish. See the box for that: It keeps your question between us. Please DO NOT ask MAKER'S MARKS, but metal quality marks are fine to ask. Please DO NOT ask diamond prices. See a gemologist for that.
Experience I have near 35 years experience at the sort of jewelry work I do.
Education/Credentials Education is English/Physics! Started in human resources, to advertising, to jewelry...wow, what a road. Now a jeweler for many years. I have had formal training in jewelry work and many shared experiences with top grade jewelers. We just never know were we will go or be. Follow your best, your dreams, with some discretion! Don't let the work tear up your body along the way.
Question I HAVE A RING IN SIDE ITS STAMPED 10K RJW I WAS WONDERING WHAT IT MEANT? PLEASE E-MAIL ME WITH A RESPONSE THANK YOU.
Answer Eric, thanks for the question.
Your ring is stamped as is legally required by the National Gold and Silver Stamping Act, put into effect in 1981. From that, I would say the 10k means the ring is made of 10 karat gold and the RJW is the mark of the manufacturer.
What seems strange about the law is that a jewelry maker does not have to stamp the jewelry with the metal quality. In your ring they could have marked it only with the RJW or with no mark at all. Of course, it would be foolish to try and market jewelry which is not marked telling the customer what the metal is and the quality of the metal.
When the metal quality is marked, as in your 10k, the law then REQUIRES the maker to also mark the ring, close to the metal mark if possible and just as large and readable. The makers mark is then like a signature stating that they are responsible for the accuracy of the metal mark. That is how it works and in the USA this system has worked quite well.
So, that is what the stamps mean and a bit of extra info about why. Best wishes and enjoy the ring.
