What does R.G.R. stand for on 14 kt gold?

Answer 1

It is my understanding that R.G.R. gold refers to an item that is gold plated. It appears to be an acronym derived from "rolled gold," which is a heavier plating than electroplated gold. It is often accompanied by a fraction (1/10, 1/30, 1/100, etc) which denotes the relative weight of the plating as compared with the weight of the base metal. The purity of the gold plating itself is, of course referenced as 10k, 14k, 18k, etc.

Because pure gold is so soft, it is mixed with alloys to strengthen it and increase its durability -- typically nickel, zinc, copper and silver -- which will also affect its overall color.

Gold "karat" is measured from 1 to 24, with 24K being pure gold. So a 10K gold ring, for example, will contain 10 parts per 24 of gold. Therefore, the following gold purity guide may be helpful - for gauging the quality, durability, and gold content of a solid gold item, or the durability and purity of an item's plating:

• 24K gold is pure gold.
• 21K gold contains 21 parts gold and 3 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 87.5% gold.
• 18K gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 75% gold.
• 14K gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 58.3% gold.
• 12K gold contains 12 parts gold and 12 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 50% gold.
• 10K gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 41.7% gold.
• 10K gold is the minimum karat that can be called gold in the United States.

  In Europe, gold jewelry is marked with numbers that indicate their percentage of gold. For example:

• 18K gold is marked .750 to indicate 75% gold
• 14K gold is marked .585 for 58.5%

Other indicators/abbreviations for gold plating include:

HGE -- Heavy Gold Electroplate (plated, not solid gold) .

Gold Filled -- marked to show, by weight, the thickness of a gold layer on the outside of base metal. For example, the mark 1/12 14kGF. This means the gold layer is 14k and is 1/12 the weight of the total metal in the item.

Vermeil is gold wash or flash over sterling silver.

Many gold plated items do not have enough gold to rank and be marked as plated. These will have no mark.