What Does 999 Mean on Jewelry?

A 999 stamp means 99.9% pure metal. On a gold piece that's 24-karat fine gold; on a silver piece it's fine silver, one step above sterling (925). Both are soft because there's almost no hardening alloy, so 999 is more common on bars and delicate pieces than on rings meant for daily wear.

What is a 999 piece worth?

999 is the highest common purity. On gold it means 24K fine gold with maximum melt value; on silver it means fine silver (99.9%), purer than sterling.

How to verify a 999 stamp

Because the 999 mark appears on both fine gold and fine silver, use the Is It Real? tool to confirm which metal you actually have. 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 999 with every other mark side by side, see the full jewelry stamps and markings chart.

Frequently asked questions