What does 18k PG mean on gold jewelry?

Answer 1

18k is supposed to mean that the item is 18 karat gold. 18 karat gold is supposed to be .750 pure. 75% pure gold and 25% some other metal. Unfortunately this is not often the case. 18k may be but likely is not .750 pure. There is a legal leeway in 18k meaning, if the item is stamped 18k it may be .745 pure. Close enough to legally be stamped as 18k. But not actually.

18KP is supposed to mean 18 karat plumb. When an item is plumb, it is level or even. In this instance 18 KP would mean exactly .750 pure. Not .745 or .748 but exactly .750.

18kpg is a trick by whoever stamped it. It means that the item is 18k gold plated. Why they stamp it 18kpg is to hopefully trick the person into thinking that it is 18k plumb gold. 18kpg is not a legitimate stamp because it changes the p from plumb to gold plated.

The gold industry like all things dealing with money is full of shysters and cons and it is truly a (let the buyer beware). Between grams and pennyweight and troy oz vs. avoirdupois oz. and using the decimal system vs the karat system it is further convoluted by the initials used, rgf, gf, plumb, plated and switching letters such as in 18kpg to mean 18 karat gold instead of plated gold. No one can know if something stamped 18 k plated is actually 18k or 10k or even gold to begin with because no one will test the item to determine quality of gold plating.

Answer 2

plated gold