What Does 965 Mean on Jewelry? (Your Guide To Basic Terms)

Last Updated on August 22, 2022

When it comes to jewelry, there are a lot of different terms that are thrown around.

If you’re not familiar with them, it can be confusing trying to figure out what everything means.

So in this post, we’re going to take a look at the meaning of 965 on jewelry.

Contents

What Does 965 Mean on Jewelry?

965 is a term used to describe the karat of gold. Gold is measured in karats, with 24 karats being the purest form of gold. 965 gold is made up of 96.5% gold and 3.5% other metals. This is a popular choice for jewelry because it is strong and resistant to tarnishing.

There are a few different interpretations of this number. Another interpretation is that 965 is the carat weight of gold. This means that a piece of jewelry made with 965 gold is 24 karats. This is the highest purity of gold available.

Either way, 965 is a sign of high-quality gold jewelry. If you see this number on a piece of jewelry, it is definitely worth considering.

 

What Are the Numbers on Your Jewelry Stand For?

The numbers on your jewelry stand for the karat of gold. Gold is measured in karats, with 24 karats being the purest form of gold. 965 gold is made up of 96.5% gold and 3.5% other metals. This is a popular choice for jewelry because it is strong and resistant to tarnishing.

The karat of gold is stamped on all gold jewelry. The number will be followed by the letter “k” to indicate that it is gold. For example, a ring that is stamped “18k” is 18 karats of gold.

Meanwhile, silver is measured by the percentage of pure silver in the alloy. 965 silver is 96.5% silver and 3.5% other metals. This is a popular choice for jewelry because it is strong and resistant to tarnishing.

The percentage of pure silver in an alloy is stamped on all silver jewelry. The number will be followed by the letter “S” to indicate that it is silver. For example, a ring that is stamped “925S” is 925 silver.

Is It Necessary for Gold Jewelry to be Stamped?

No, it is not necessary for gold jewelry to be stamped with a 965 mark or any other marks in order to be high quality. In fact, many manufacturers do not stamp their gold jewelry at all. However, the 965 stamp is a good indicator that a piece of jewelry is made with high-quality gold.

What Types of Stamps are There on Gold Jewelry?

There are a few different stamps that are commonly seen on gold jewelry. As mentioned above, the 965 stamp indicates that a piece of jewelry is made with 96.5% pure gold. The other common stamps are 18K, 14K, and 10K.

18K gold is made with 75% pure gold and 25% alloy. 14K gold is made with 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% alloy. 10K gold is made with 41.7% pure gold and 58.3% alloy.

The 18K stamp is the most common stamp seen on gold jewelry. This is because 18K gold is a good balance of purity and durability.

14K gold is also a popular choice for jewelry, as it is slightly less expensive than 18K gold but still has a good amount of purity. 10K gold is the least common stamp seen on gold jewelry because it is not as pure as the other types of gold.

What Should You Do If Your Gold Jewelry Isn’t Stamped?

If your gold jewelry isn’t stamped, don’t worry! This doesn’t necessarily mean that it isn’t high quality. Many manufacturers choose not to stamp their gold jewelry for a variety of reasons.

If you’re concerned about the purity of your gold jewelry, you can always take it to a jeweler and have it tested. They will be able to tell you the exact purity of your gold jewelry and can even stamp it for you if you’d like.

If It Doesn’t Have Any Markings, How Can You Tell If It’s A Real Gold?

There are a few ways that you can tell if a piece of jewelry is made with real gold, even if it doesn’t have any markings. One way to tell is by the color of the gold. Pure gold is a bright, yellow color. If the gold is anything other than yellow, it is not pure gold.

Another way to tell if gold is real is by its weight. Pure gold is very heavy, so if a piece of jewelry is very light, it is likely not made with pure gold.

You can also test gold by using a magnet. Gold is not magnetic, so if the piece of jewelry is attracted to a magnet, it is not made with real gold.

If you’re still not sure if your gold jewelry is real, you can always take it to a jeweler and have it tested. They will be able to tell you for sure whether or not your gold jewelry is real.

Jackie Palmer is a Houston-based coin journalist and fashion enthusiast. She joined Jewels Advisor’s content team after years of experience as a content strategist, managing blogs and social channels for local stores. Jackie mostly collects and studies US coins produced during the 20th century and over the years, published hundreds of articles for multiple coin publications.