A mall counter. A market stall. A pawnshop auction. Pasalubong from abroad. An online sale where someone shouts "Last three pieces na lang!" Buying gold can feel like a gamble. It doesn't have to be. Welcome to Kilatis 101. 🔍
✅ The Kilatis Checklist
- Read the stamp. 750 or K18 is 18K, 875 is 21K, 585 is 14K. No stamp? Ask why. Here's how to read every stamp.
- Ask for the weight in grams. Gold is valued by weight. An honest seller will tell you, or weigh it in front of you.
- Do the math. Weight times the gold price per gram for that karat gives you the gold value. Design and labor are added on top, so a price far below the gold value deserves questions.
- Watch for "plated" words. GP, GF, HGE, "gold tone," "gold color," or "18K plated" all mean the piece is not solid gold.
- Check the build. Test the clasp, look at the joints, and make sure stones sit tight. Hollow pieces are real gold too, just lighter, and they dent more easily.
- Get a receipt. It should state the karat and the weight.
- When in doubt, get it checked. A jeweler can test the karat for you.
- 24K4.99g
- 22K4.58g
- 21K4.38g
- 18K3.75g
- 14K2.93g
- 10K2.09g
Grams of pure gold in a 5-gram piece, by karat. The weight is the same, but the gold inside is not.
Show as table
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 4.99g | About 99.9% gold |
| 22K | 4.58g | About 91.6% gold |
| 21K | 4.38g | About 87.5% gold |
| 18K | 3.75g | 75% gold |
| 14K | 2.93g | About 58.5% gold |
| 10K | 2.09g | About 41.7% gold |
🚨 Pause and ask questions if...
- The price is way below the gold value for its weight and karat.
- The seller won't say the weight, or the karat.
- There's no stamp, or the stamp says GP, GF, or HGE.
- You're being rushed. "Mine na, mine na!" can wait five minutes.
- There's no receipt.
None of these automatically means a piece is fake. They just mean it's worth a closer look before you pay.
Or skip the guesswork
With a custom piece, you choose the karat from the start, and we confirm the design and the price before any work begins. The price follows the gold market, the design, the weight, and any stones. Here's what goes into it. Already have gold at home? We can remake it into something new.
Quick answers
How can I tell if gold jewelry is real?
Check the karat stamp (like 750, 875, or 585), ask for the weight, and watch for plated marks like GP, GF, or HGE. For certainty, have a jeweler test it.
How is gold jewelry priced?
Mostly by weight and karat, based on the current gold price, plus the design, labor, and any stones.
What does GP or GF mean on jewelry?
GP means gold plated and GF means gold filled. Both have a thin layer of gold over another metal, so they are not solid gold. HGE means heavy gold electroplate.
Is very cheap 18K gold real?
If the price is far below the gold value for its weight, ask questions. The piece may be plated, hollow, lower karat, or lighter than it looks.
Is hollow gold real gold?
Yes, if it's stamped and solid karat gold. It just uses less gold, so it's lighter and dents more easily.
Can a jeweler test my gold?
Yes. Marico Jewelry in Davao City can check the karat of your gold jewelry.
Want a second opinion?
Bring your piece to the workshop and we'll check the karat. No appointment needed.
- Visit
- D-2C Mapa Mabini Commercial Complex, 37 Oriental Street, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000, Davao del Sur
- Hours
- Mon – Fri, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM