Austrian Hallmarks: How to Check Precious-Metal Items
Hallmarks are important when buying jewellery, silverware or other valuables. In Austria, hallmarking is strictly regulated, helping make the precious-metals market more transparent and safer for buyers.
What is a hallmark?
A hallmark, known in German as Punze or Feingehaltsstempel, is a mark pressed into jewellery or another precious-metal item. It indicates the fineness, or purity, of the precious metal. The number is expressed in thousandths (‰). For example, 585 means that the item contains 58.5% gold.
Hallmarking has existed in Austria since the Middle Ages, although its modern form became established at the end of the 19th century. The current rules are set out in the Punzierungsgesetz, the hallmarking law. It requires precious-metal products made or marketed in Austria to have an official hallmark.
Hallmarks help establish an item's true value and provide a degree of protection for buyers. An Austrian item will generally carry several marks: the fineness mark, an identification mark for the manufacturer or importer, and a control mark from an official testing institution, such as a hallmarking office (Repunze, Amtspunze).
Common Austrian hallmarks
Gold
- 750 / 18K: 75% pure gold
- 585 / 14K: 58.5% pure gold; this is the most common marking
- 375 / 9K: 37.5% pure gold; in Austria, this is not classified as gold
Under the rules, only gold with a fineness of at least 585 thousandths is officially classified as gold in Austria.
Silver
- 925: “Sterling silver”
- 835: “Crown silver”
- 800: the minimum required fineness
Platinum
- 950: high-purity platinum
- 750: lower-fineness platinum
Where can you find a hallmark?
Hallmarks are usually placed in a discreet, less visible location:
- Rings: on the inside
- Necklaces: on the clasp or the last links
- Earrings: on the back
- Bracelets: on the inside
- Watches: on the back or inside the cover
Fake hallmarks and how to recognise them
Because precious-metal prices are high, items with fake hallmarks are sometimes offered as genuine. A particularly well-known scam is “Autobahngold”, in which supposedly gold rings are offered in unlikely situations, such as motorway rest areas, accompanied by an urgent explanation.
Reliable dealers may use an acid test or another physical test even when an item has a hallmark. This helps confirm the item's actual metal composition.
The legal background in Austria
The Austrian Punzierungsgesetz specifies which products must carry a hallmark:
- Gold: at least 585 thousandths
- Platinum: at least 950 thousandths
- Silver: at least 800 thousandths
The law states that a hallmark must be clearly visible and unambiguous. Selling jewellery with an incorrect or fake mark can have legal consequences.
Unlike Austria, Germany does not require hallmarking by law. There, anyone may apply a hallmark, but anyone who places a fineness mark on an item is responsible for its accuracy.
Practical steps before buying
- Look for the hallmark in the usual location for the type of item.
- Check the number against the Austrian minimum fineness for gold, silver or platinum.
- Be cautious when jewellery is offered in an unusual situation with pressure to buy quickly, especially in an “Autobahngold” scenario.
- Ask a reliable dealer to carry out an acid test or another physical test if the item's composition is uncertain.
- Remember that a hallmark should be clearly visible and unambiguous.