What does the owl hallmark mean?
Short answer
Owl: gold of at least 750, of foreign or uncertain origin, marked in France.
A mark is a statement, not proof: it can be forged or struck on a plated piece. An assay confirms it (touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence).
The stamp in detail
| Item | What the tables say |
|---|---|
| Stamp | owl |
| Class | Hallmark symbol |
| Gold fineness | 750 parts per thousand (75 % gold), 18 karat |
| Legal standard (gold 750) | United Kingdom, Vienna Convention states, France, United States |
| Source check | Checked against the sources listed below |
| Date clue | Not before 1893. The owl has been used since 1893. |
What owl can be mistaken for
Pieces that look like gold and are not:
- plated and gold filled
- pinchbeck and gilt brass
- silver gilt (vermeil)
What a stamp cannot settle: The metal. Colour is not a fineness, and a mark can be forged.
What settles it:
- Magnet: if it sticks, it is not solid gold (not sticking proves nothing).
- Jeweller: touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence, in two minutes.
Related stamps
Other ways the same fineness is stamped: 750, 18K.
Also in this group: lion passant, Britannia, leopard head, anchor, rose, castle, crown, orb.
Frequently asked
What does owl mean on jewelry?
Owl: gold of at least 750, of foreign or uncertain origin, marked in France.
Is the owl mark proof of the metal?
A mark is a statement, not proof: it can be forged or struck on a plated piece. An assay confirms it (touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence).
Sources
- Douane française, table of guarantee marks (2009)
- Hallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 2 (revised text)
- Vienna Convention on precious metals, Technical Decisions Rev. 13 (in force 1 Oct 2026)
All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.