We buy jewellery as a symbol of love. But what’s the real meaning behind the numbers?
What do they mean?
Or is it just preference?
If you’ve ever been to a jewellery shop you’ve probably noticed 888, 88, 008, 800 or a similar number right next to the price.
At first glance, it looks like gibberish.
But once you’ve read this blog post you’ll know why they are there, and exactly what they mean.
What does 88 mean on jewellery?
When it comes to precious stones, the actual carat weight is worth more than a stone’s size.
As a rule of thumb, buying larger stones for earrings and pendants (in relation to body size) may be more advantageous in terms of the value you receive.
Of course, getting certified diamonds from reliable jewellers will help you to get the best quality possible.
888, 88, 008 and 800 are all different types of karat measurement. When you see any of these numbers on a piece of jewellery, it means how much gold is in it.
For example: if you see the number 20 on a necklace, that means it’s made out of 24-karat gold (which is the purest type of gold).
What does the number 88 signify on a ring? In its factory setting, this number denotes a 14 k gold ring.
The stunning Eighty-Eight diamond creates an elegant, unique and rare design that dazzles with beautiful brilliance.
Gems like the symbols on a ring indicate something about the stone’s quality, cut and how much care went into the ring’s design and manufacture.
If a luxury brand is offering an 88 jewellery piece, you can be assured it is made of decent quality.
It might not be the best in the world but according to industry standards it should still be amongst the best jewellery pieces in its price range.
What does 008 mean on jewellery?
The number “008” is a certification that the jewellery has been tested for gold content and purity by the Gold Council of Great Britain.
The number “008” is also used to indicate that the jewellery has been certified by other organisations, including the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).
It is important to note that there are different standards for different countries, so you may see another number in your country’s system instead of 008.
For example, in Australia, you might see a mark with an ABN number on it. In Germany, there is a G mark and in Switzerland there are numbers such as 038 or 039.
What does 800 mean when stamped on jewellery?
The number stamped on a piece of jewellery is the metal’s purity. The most common purity levels are 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K. Platinum is stamped with the number 900, which means it’s 90% pure platinum and 10% other metals.
Platinum is a dense metal that does not tarnish easily, making it an excellent choice for jewellery.
The higher the number, the purer the metal. For example, if you see a diamond ring marked “18K,” that means it contains 75 percent gold and 25 percent other metals.
If you see a diamond ring marked “14K,” that means it contains 58 percent gold and 42 percent other metals. A ring marked “10K” contains 41 percent gold and 59 percent other metals.
Platinum is one of your favourite metals and the number “900” indicates it has a 90% platinum content and 10% other metals.
The mark “850” or “800” indicates that the proportion of platinum is similar to that of other metal alloys.
What does 888 mean on jewellery?
888 is a mark of purity for a metal. It means that the metal is approximately 8 parts pure, and 12 parts another element (usually copper). Sterling silver is at least 92.5% pure silver.
The other metals that are commonly used in jewellery include gold (which can be marked with karat marks), platinum, and palladium.
In most cases, it’s just a matter of switching out one word for another. For example, instead of saying “this is sterling silver,” you could say “this ring is 888.”
The difference between sterling and 888 isn’t that significant for most people, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it if you’re not a jewellery expert or collector.
Conclusion:
While there are a lot of theories out there, the truth is that no one knows for certain. It’s quite possible that each of them has some basis in fact, but we can’t say for certain.
What’s more, it’s not like we have records going back hundreds or thousands of years detailing what the markings on this jewellery meant—all we really have are modern interpretations of the numbers and their corresponding meanings.
Regardless, each meaning is interesting, and they make for great conversation pieces. So don’t shy away from them—let them spark conversations!
