What does jf14k mean on jewelry?

Answer 1

J14K is a trademark. The "J" is the jeweler and manufacturer: WEISZ FINE JEWELRY CO., INC. JARDINAY COMPANY CORPORATION NEW YORK. (Jardinay was the original company.) Since the company only owned the J14K trademark between April 8, 1982 and April 29, 1983, I assume that jewelry stamped with J14K was probably made during that period of time.

Currently, Jardinay® is listed as an active registered trademark used for Watches and Jewelry and owned by Metal Marketplace International Inc., Weisz Precious Metals, Inc.

The 14K part of J14K stands for 14 karat gold, a fine jewelry grade of gold. Gold's purity is measured in karats. Pure gold is 24K. Jewelry gold is combined with other alloys (metals) for hardness and desired color. 18K and 22K gold is also used in fine and high end jewelry, but is softer and scuffs and dents more easily than 14K gold. For both cost and durability considerations, 14K is very commonly used in popularly priced fine jewelry.

J14K gold is solid 14K gold, not plated, rolled or filled. It is considered to be fine jewelry, now collectible.

There was another NY jeweler, J. F. JEWELERS, who later owned the J14K trademark, but was a retailer, not a manufacturer. I found no evidence that they ever had the J14K trademark stamped on a piece of jewelry. J.F. Jeweler's trademark was canceled on December 15, 2001 by court action citing: IC 014. US 028.

The trademark J14K is now listed as "dead" by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.