In the process of trying to date a ring I received from my Great Grandma (she passed away at the ripe old age of 102 and that was over 25 years ago), I viewed so many web sites that now I cannot locate some information I came across. It didn't seem important at the time. I believe I read that the use of "K" or "KT" to denote carat would help me find out the age. Can you tell me when they started using the two markings? It seems to me that it had something to do with a law or rule and when that law or rule was put in place. I was thinking this might help me decide at least approximately the age of this ring. The inside of the band read MJ10k. Any help would be appreciated.
... after consulting Valerie, a jewelry expert with your very good gold hallmark question, I received the following reply:
This was as intriguing to me as it is to you, so in order to get more information I contacted an Uncle of mine who has been in the jewellery business for over 60 years.
his information was the following: "in 1914, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson established the Federal Trade Commission Act, which created the Federal Trade Commission.
As part of its mandate to protect consumers and simplify certain manufacturing requirements, the commission instituted a large number of rules laws and guidelines.
One of those was the " 10k " Rule, which sates that according to FTC guidelines, no gold under 10K can legally be sold as gold in the United States".
I hope this answer has helped narrow down the time line for you.
