What Does 990 Mean on Jewelry?

990 means 99.0% pure gold — a near-24K standard often marked 'chuk kam' (pure gold) in Chinese jewelry. It's softer than lower karats and valued almost entirely for its gold content rather than durability.

What is a 990 piece worth?

At 99% gold, 990 is essentially bullion in wearable form and carries near-maximum melt value.

How to verify a 990 stamp

Scan the 990 stamp with the Hallmark Reader; near-pure gold is soft and often imitated. Anyone can stamp a mark on metal, so a hallmark alone isn't proof — the fastest way to check is to photograph the stamp and run it through the free Hallmark Reader, then confirm the metal itself with the Is It Real? tool. For a full picture of what your piece is worth, get a free jewelry appraisal. To compare 990 with every other mark side by side, see the full jewelry stamps and markings chart.

Frequently asked questions