What is 1/20 14k GF on a chain mean

[gabe999]

Hy I'm just wondering what 1/20 14k GF means I also have a 12k to thanks in advance

 

[OoohShiny]

Do you have a picture?

 

[stracci2000]

A stamp of "1/20 14K GF" on jewelry means that the piece is gold-filled. The 1/20 means that there is one part gold to every 20 parts of other materials. The 14K on the stamp notes that the gold used is 14-carat gold.
Basically this is costume jewelry.
Anytime a piece is marked GF(gold filled), GP(gold plated) or HGE(heavy gold electroplate) it is costume jewelry.

 

[OoohShiny]

A stamp of "1/20 14K GF" on jewelry means that the piece is gold-filled. The 1/20 means that there is one part gold to every 20 parts of other materials. The 14K on the stamp notes that the gold used is 14-carat gold.
Basically this is costume jewelry.
Anytime a piece is marked GF(gold filled), GP(gold plated) or HGE(heavy gold electroplate) it is costume jewelry.

That is the one new thing I have learnt today, thank you for the info!

 

[ksinger]

A stamp of "1/20 14K GF" on jewelry means that the piece is gold-filled. The 1/20 means that there is one part gold to every 20 parts of other materials. The 14K on the stamp notes that the gold used is 14-carat gold.
Basically this is costume jewelry.
Anytime a piece is marked GF(gold filled), GP(gold plated) or HGE(heavy gold electroplate) it is costume jewelry.

Just to add, from my recollection, gold-filled is the best of the 3, the gold layer being bonded to (usually) sterling on the inside, and being much thicker than either plate or HGE. Or, to put it more colorfully, unlike gold plate, GF "won't rust, crust, collect dust, chip, crack, or PEEL!!!!" Or something like that.

 

[pearlsngems]

In my experience gold filled is very durable; the gold is bonded to base metal.
Gold plated over sterling silver is called "vermeil" and is marked 925, for the silver.

A lot of hand-crafted and wire-wrapped jewelry is made with gold-filled wire. I don't view it as costume jewelry, but it is certainly not as valuable as karat gold.

 

[paperunicorn]

Gold fill is also very common to find in Victorian and Edwardian pieces.