Gold Hallmarks in Portugal: How to Identify the 3 Marks on Gold

What do the 3 marks on Portuguese gold mean?

Hallmarks are small stamps applied to different items to guarantee the type and quality of the material. They can usually be seen with a magnifying glass.

If you have a camera with a macro lens, you can try taking a photo,many smartphones now have this capability.

A precious metal item is legally marked when it includes:

• A Responsibility Mark
• A Manufacturer’s Mark (or equivalent)
• A Hallmark from the Assay Office (Portuguese Mint)

Responsibility Marks

These are applied to pieces containing precious metals. They consist of a unique engraved design and a letter representing the company or operator.

This mark identifies the entity responsible for placing the item on the market.

Assay Office Mark (Hallmark)

In Portugal, the Portuguese Mint – Assay Office is responsible for testing and marking precious metal items, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

These marks usually feature a symbol with Arabic numbering, indicating the fineness (purity) of the piece.

Example: Gold – a ram’s head facing left indicates fineness levels of 999, 916, and 800. A ram’s head facing right indicates fineness levels of 750, 585, and 375.

Want to understand more about gold karats and purity levels?

Other Marks

Some pieces are made of multiple materials, such as gold and silver, or metal and silver, or are gold-plated.

If a piece contains more than one material, it must be marked with the respective hallmarks for each material.

For example, a ring made of both silver and gold will have:

• A silver hallmark
• A gold hallmark
• A responsibility mark from the manufacturer

If the piece contains more than 2 grams of silver and 0.5 grams of gold, it must be marked accordingly.

Items with metal parts must be marked with that designation (e.g., “M” or “Metal”), and the same applies to plated pieces.

How many marks does white gold have?

Today, white gold typically has at least 2 marks:

• The manufacturer’s mark
• The hallmark indicating gold purity

In the past, white gold had distinct marks compared to yellow gold, even though the gold content was the same, the difference lies in the alloy used to create its color.

In the 20th century, specific hallmarks were used for white gold, jewellery, and mixed metal pieces.

For example:

• A piece may include three marks: one for the manufacturer, one specific to white gold (e.g., an ant), and another (e.g., a rooster) indicating it is jewellery.
• A ring marked with a dragon head and the Roman numeral II indicates Portuguese gold (19.2 karats) produced between 1887 and 1937.

Hallmarks from the Assay Office have changed over time.

How to verify hallmarks

Hallmarks are a guarantee of quality for the consumer. Pieces without hallmarks usually have very little market value, as they lack certification from an independent authority.

Such items can only be sold legally if they are submitted for hallmarking.

In some rings (especially high-purity gold like Portuguese gold), the marks may fade over time due to wear, but traces often remain.

Check if your piece has marks and identify the symbol. Note that real gold does not lose its color,if you see discoloration in worn areas, it may not be solid gold.

If you are unable to verify the marks, our stores provide magnifying tools and official hallmark charts for your convenience. You can also ask us for help.

Common Control Mark

Since 1982, Portugal has been a member of the Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals.

This agreement introduced the Common Control Mark, which facilitates international trade of precious metal items. Member countries can export items to each other without additional formalities.

These marks have the same legal status as national hallmarks.

Not all marks indicate precious metals

Some companies produce items that are not made of precious metals but use symbols similar to official hallmarks. These are not issued by the Assay Office and can mislead consumers.

Not everything that shines is gold. Some items may be gold-plated or simply have a similar color.

Can you identify if your piece has a real gold hallmark? Try checking with a magnifying glass or macro lens.

All businesses dealing with precious metals are required to provide access to a magnifying glass, official hallmark charts, and a list of certified evaluators upon request.

Examples of hallmarks

• A rabbit head facing left with “925” indicates silver with 925 fineness, produced from 2021 onwards.
• A deer mark with “800” indicates gold with 800 fineness (19.2 karats), produced between 1985 and 2020.
• An ant mark on white gold indicates 800 fineness (19.2 karats), produced between 1938 and 1984.

Does your piece have 3 marks? Do you know what they mean? Is one of them a rooster? A beetle? A swallow with numbers?

Be curious,compare your piece with official hallmark charts and understand their meaning.

If you have any doubts, feel free to visit one of our agencies,we’ll be happy to help you verify your piece.

Want to sell gold?

Visit one of our agencies in Amadora, Almada, Benfica, Moscavide, Mem Martins, or Cascais.

We pay above average prices, as we operate with lower margins and no intermediaries.

Our company buys used gold, silver, and branded watches.

Visit us for a free evaluation for sale. We do not purchase palladium or platinum.

If you need to sell gold, we pay cash on the spot. Visit our branches – valuation is free, with easy parking and access to public transport.