Jewelry IdentifierWhat Does GF Mean on Jewelry?
GF means Gold Filled — a thick bonded gold layer, far more than plating.
- Metal
- Gold-filled (base metal)
- Purity
- bonded gold layer (≥5% of weight)
- Karat / type
- varies (e.g. 1/20 14K GF)
- Also written as
- gold filled, 1/20 GF
- Commonly on
- quality fashion jewelry, chains, earwires
GF stands for Gold Filled. Unlike thin gold plating, gold filled bonds a substantial layer of real gold (by US law at least 1/20th of the item's weight) over a base core. A mark like '1/20 14K GF' means 1/20 of the weight is 14K gold. It lasts for years without wearing through, but it still isn't solid gold, so its melt value is modest.
What is a GF piece worth?
Gold filled has a much thicker gold layer than plating (legally ≥1/20 of the weight) so it wears far longer, but its melt value is still low compared to solid gold.
How to verify a GF stamp
A fraction like '1/20 14K GF' tells you the gold amount; confirm the piece with the Is It Real? tool. 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 GF with every other mark side by side, see the full jewelry stamps and markings chart.
Frequently asked questions
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