Competition Bureau
ToolsRelated topicsResourcesGuide to the Precious Metals Marking Act and RegulationsJune 1996 Table of Contents
1. IntroductionTable of Contents | Next Section This guide provides an outline to the quality and marking requirements of precious metals articles subject to the Precious Metals Marking Act and the Precious Metals Marking Regulations (hereafter called the Act and Regulations). This document should be read in conjunction with the Act and Regulations which will govern. For further clarification of these requirements, please contact the Information Centre of the Competition Bureau or to order a copy of the Act and Regulations, please contact the Canada Communications Group. 1.1 Objectives of the LegislationThe Act and Regulations seek:
1.2 ProhibitionsNo guarantee with respect to the durability or wearability of the precious metal plating of an article can be made. Dealers are prohibited from selling, importing into Canada or advertising any precious metal article in a manner which is false or misleading as to the precious metal content. 1.3 Dealer ResponsibilityAs a dealer, your responsibility is to ensure that:
2. DefinitionsSection 2 of Act Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section
3. Unauthorized MarkingsSection 3 of Act Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section Except as authorized by this Act, no dealer shall apply to an article, or bring into Canada an article that has applied to it, a mark that suggests or indicates that the article is a precious metal article. 4. MarkingsSection 4(1) of Act Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section It is not mandatory to mark or advertise a precious metal article for quality ? "14K" for gold, for example, or "sterling silver". Any mark or advertisement which does, however, refer to the quality of a precious metal article must be factual and in the manner prescribed. 4.1Section 4(1) of Act A quality mark that truly and correctly indicates the quality of the precious metal may be applied to an article if the precious metal content meets the standards provided in the regulations. 4.2Section 4(2) of Act A quality mark applied to a precious metal article shall be a mark authorized by the regulations and shall be applied in a manner authorized by the regulations. 4.3 Trade-markSection 4(3) of Act Where a quality mark is applied to a precious metal article it must also bear a trade-mark that has either been applied for or registered with the Registrar of Trade-marks in Canada. For information, including an application form for a trade-mark all correspondence should be addressed to:
A trade-marks information clerk may be reached at (819) 997-1420. 4.4 HallmarkSection 4(4)(a) of Act If an article has applied to it a quality mark and is hallmarked in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, it does not require a trade-mark. Foreign Government MarkSection 4(4)(b) of Act Articles that are quality marked in a foreign country, and also have applied to them an assay mark of that country which is recognized by the Department of Industry, are not required to have applied to them a trade-mark registered in Canada. 4.5 Other MarksSection 4(5) of Act Other marks may be applied such as:
5. National MarkSection 5 of Act Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section The national mark consists of a representation of a maple leaf surrounded by the letter "C".
This mark may be applied to an article that is wholly manufactured in Canada which is composed of karat gold, silver, platinum or palladium, as allowed under Section 6 of the regulations. The article shall also be trademarked. The national mark may only be applied by an authorized dealer who has a registered trade-mark. Written requests for the authority to use this mark on qualifying precious metal articles should be addressed to:
5.1Section 5(1) of Regulations Subject to subsections 10(1), 11(6) and 12(1), a quality mark may be applied to a precious metal article by any method. 5.2Section 5(2) of Regulations Where a quality mark is stamped, branded, engraved or imprinted on a precious metal article, a trade mark that is applied to that article pursuant to subsection 4(3) of the Act shall be applied by the same method as the quality mark. 5.3Section 5(3) of Regulations Where only part of an article is composed of a precious metal plating of a quality specified in section 7, 8 or 9 and a quality mark is applied to the article, the name of the part to which the quality mark is applicable shall be applied immediately before or after the mark. 5.4Section 5(4) of Regulations Where a statement of the thickness of the precious metal is expressed as a whole numeral and followed immediately by the word "micrometres", or the symbol, "µm" the word "micron", or the symbol "µ" may be substituted therefor. 6. Articles other than Plated ArticlesSection 6 Regulations and table thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section 6.1 Gold"karat", "carat", "Karat", "Carat", "Kt.", "Ct.", "K", "C" or a decimal designation may be used to express the quality of gold of an article having a minimum quality of 9K or higher. Gold articles having a quality of 10K, 14K, 18K may alternatively be marked as .416, .583, .750 respectively. 6.2 Silver"silver", "sterling silver", "sterling", "argent", "argent sterling" or any abbreviations thereof (e.g., "ster.", or "STG") are quality marks provided for any article which contains at least 925 parts pure silver in 1,000 parts by weight. The use of ".925" for "silver" of 925 parts pure silver per 1,000 parts by weight is also provided for. 6.3 Platinum"platinum", "plat.", or "platine" are quality marks provided for any article which contains at least 95 percent platinum or at least 95 percent an alloy of platinum and iridium or ruthenium. 6.4 Palladium"palladium" or "pall." are quality marks provided for any article which contains 95% palladium. This quality mark may also be used for an alloy of at least 90% palladium only when accompanied with an additional 5% of any combination of the following prescribed metals namely platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium or gold. 7. Plated ArticlesSection 7 Regulations and the table thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section This section does not cover the requirement for plated watch cases, spectacle frames, flatware and hollow ware which are discussed later in this guide. 7.1"gold filled" These are acceptable quality marks on any article which is produced from material consisting of a base metal to which a layer of gold of minimum 10K quality has been soldered or sweated, and such quality of gold comprises at least 1/20 of the gross weight of the entire article. 7.2"rolled gold plate" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to any article which meets the gold filled requirements except that the amount of gold comprises less than 1/20 of the gross weight of the entire article. With respect to the plated articles subject to this section, if a karat designation is used, it must be preceded by the fraction when used in conjunction with the quality marks, "gold filled" or "rolled gold plate". For example, the mark "1/20 10K G.F." would be an indication that the article had applied to it by a mechanical process 10K gold and that the gold comprises 1/20 of the entire weight of the article. Each numeral in the fraction used must be in the same size of type and prominence as the remainder of the quality mark. 7.3"gold electroplate" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to an article which has applied to it, by an electrolytic process, gold of 10K minimum quality. The thickness of the gold plate, in terms of whole numbers of microns or micrometres, may be applied to such an article provided the thickness is of at least 1 micron or micrometre or larger. 7.4"silver filled" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to any article produced from material consisting of a base metal to which a layer of silver of .925 quality has been soldered or sweated, and such silver comprises at least 1/10 of the gross weight of the entire article. 7.5"silver electroplate" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to an article which has had silver of at least .925 quality applied by an electrolytic process. NOTE: The abbreviation "S.P." is taken to mean silver electro-plated and is an acceptable quality mark due to long-standing trade use. 7.6"vermeil" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to any article meeting the minimum quality standard for "silver", which has been plated with gold of at least 10K quality. 8. Plated Pocket Watch CasesSection 8 Regulations and table thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section NOTE: The criterion used with respect to the quality marks "GOLD FILLED", "ROLLED GOLD PLATE" or "GOLD PLATED" used on watch cases is based on thickness and not weight. 8.1"gold filled" These quality marks must be accompanied by a factual karat designation, e.g., "10K G.F.". All of the numerals and letters in the mark must be in the same size of type. A minimum thickness of 3/1000 of an inch (75 micrometres) of at least 10K gold must be applied to the outer surface of the hunting case front, back, centre, open- face bezel, pendant, crown and bow. At least 1/1000 of an inch (25 micrometres) of at least 10K gold must also be applied to the outer surface of the caps and hunting bezel. 8.2"rolled gold plate" These quality marks must be accompanied by a factual karat designation, e.g. "10K ROLLED GOLD PLATE". All numerals and letters in the mark must be in the same size of type. A minimum thickness of approximately 1½/1000 of an inch (35 micrometres) of at least 10K gold must be applied to the surface of the hunting case front, back, centre, open-face bezel, pendant, crown and bow. At least 1/1000 of an inch (25 micrometres) of at least 10K gold must also be applied on the outer surface of the caps and hunting bezel. 8.3"silver filled" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to watch cases produced from material consisting of a base metal to which a layer of silver of .925 quality has been soldered or sweated. A minimum thickness of 3/1000 of an inch (75 micrometres) of at least .925 silver must be applied to the surface of the hunting case front, back, centre, open-face bezel, pendant, crown and bow. At least 1/1000 of an inch (25 micrometres) of at least .925 silver must also be applied on the outer surface of the caps and hunting bezel. 8.4"gold electroplate" These quality marks may only be applied to watch cases which have been electrolytically plated with gold of at least 10K quality to a thickness of at least 5 micrometres. 8.5"silver electroplate" These quality marks may only be applied to watch cases which have been electrolytically plated with silver of at least .925 quality to a thickness of at least 5 micrometres. 9. Plated Bracelet Watch CasesSection 9 Regulations and table thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section The marking provisions are identical to pocket watch cases (see Section 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3) with one exception. The exception is that provision is made here for the addition of the marking of any part which is not of the quality of the rest of the case, e.g., Base Metal Back. This marking may be applied either on the inner or outer surface of the case back. The trademark must be applied to the case proper. The name on the dial of the watch is not considered to cover the requirement to apply the trademark on the case. 10. Spectacle FramesSection 10 Regulations and tables thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section 10.1"gold filled" These are acceptable quality marks on any article which is produced from material consisting of a base metal to which a layer of gold of minimum 10K quality has been soldered or sweated, and such quality of gold comprises at least 1/20 of the gross weight of the entire article. 10.2"rolled plate" These are acceptable quality marks which can be applied to any article which meets the gold filled requirements except that the amount of gold comprises less than 1/20 of the gross weight of the entire article. 10.3"gilt" These quality marks may be applied to a spectacle frame which is produced in a material which has had gold of at least 10K applied electrolytically to a thickness of at least 1 micrometre. The provision for the use of the mark "gilt" or "doré" applies only to spectacle frames. 11. Plated FlatwareSection 11 Regulations and table thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section 11.1"silverplate" These quality marks may be applied to articles of flatware which have been plated with silver of a minimum .925 quality. "A.I." These quality marks may also be applied to flatware articles, based on the amount of silver of a minimum .925 quality used as primary plating on a gross of teaspoons of the same size and design. Refer to Regulations for the different amounts of silver used as primary plating and the different amounts of silver in overlay. 11.2"gold electroplate" These quality marks may be applied to flatware which has been plated with at least 10K quality gold. Where such gold plating is of at least 1 micrometre thickness, the thickness may be marked but only in whole numerals. 11.3"nickel-silver" The terms "nickel-silver", "nickel-argent" or "N.S." may be applied to an article in conjunction with the quality and trade mark provided the base metal contains 10 percent or more by weight of pure nickel. All plated flatware containing less than 10 percent pure nickel by weight in the base metal must be stamped with the name of the base metal in conjunction with the trade mark. The appropriate precious metal quality mark may also be applied. 12. Plated Hollow WareSection 12 Regulations and table thereto Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), every article of hollow ware, other than a Sheffield reproduction article, that is a gold-plated or silver-plated article shall have stamped, branded, engraved or imprinted on it in a legible and conspicuous manner, the name of the base substance or such other word or words that accurately describe the base substance of the article and mount, if any, and the trade-mark shall be applied in conjunction therewith. (2) Where 10 per cent or more by weight of the base metal in an article of hollow ware plated with gold or silver is pure nickel, such base metal may be identified by the expression "nickel-silver" "nickel-argent" or "N.S.". (3) Where 90 per cent or more by weight of the base metal in an article of hollow ware that is a plated article is tin, such base metal may be identified by the expression "britannia metal", "métal anglais", "white metal", "métal blanc", "B.M." or "W.M.". 12.1"gold electroplate" These quality marks may be applied to articles of hollow ware which have been gold plated with gold of at least 10K quality. 12.2"silverplate" These quality marks may be applied to articles of hollow ware which have been plated with silver of at least .925 quality. 12.3"Sheffield Reproduction" These quality marks may be applied to hollow ware articles which have a base of nickel or copper, with a soldered border, and the border plus any mounts must be of .925 silver, nickel or copper. 12.4"nickel-silver" These terms may be applied to hollow ware articles where the base metal contains 10 percent or more by weight of pure nickel. 12.5"Brittannia Metal" These terms may be applied to an article where the base metal contains 90 percent of more by weight of tin. 12.6 Thickness of PlatingThe thickness of the gold or silver plating may be indicated in micrometres so long as such thickness is 1 or more micrometres. The thickness must be expressed in whole numerals only. 13. TolerancesSection 13 of Regulations Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section 13.1 For articles produced in gold between 9K and 24K3 parts per 1,000 parts by weight - where no solder is used. 13.11 For articles produced in 18K white gold3 parts per 1,000 parts by weight - where no solder is used. 13.2 For articles produced in silver - .925 or better2 parts per 1,000 parts by weight - where no solder is used. 13.3 For articles produced in platinum (or an alloy of platinum and iridium or ruthenium)The quantity of platinum (or the alloy if used) must be at least 95 percent of the metallic content of the article. No legal tolerance provided. 13.4 For articles produced in palladiumThe quantity of palladium used must be at least 95 percent of the metallic content of the article. No legal tolerance provided. 13.5 For articles produced in an alloy of palladium and platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium or gold
|
|
Created: 1996-06-01 Updated: 2005-05-17 |
 Top of Page |
Important Notices |