A quality mark may be applied to a precious metal article by any method.

Where a quality mark is stamped, branded, engraved or imprinted on a precious metal article, any trademark on the article must be applied by the same method.

In order to qualify for a Gold quality mark, the Gold article must have a minimum quality of 9K or higher.

In order to qualify for a Silver quality mark, the Silver article must contain at least 925 parts of pure silver in 1000 parts by weight.

In order to qualify for a Platinum quality mark, the Platinum article must contain at least 95 percent platinum.

Alternatively, the article must contain at least a 95 percent alloy of platinum and iridium, or of platinum and ruthenium.

In order to qualify for a Palladium quality mark, the Palladium article must contain at least 95 percent palladium.

Alternatively, the article must contain an alloy composed of at least 90 percent palladium only when accompanied with an additional 5 percent of any combination of the following prescribed metals: platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, or gold.

Marks other than quality marks or trademarks may be applied to precious metal articles, such as:

• numerals intended to identify the article or pattern which are not calculated to mislead or deceive;
• the name or initials of a dealer, provided it will not be confused with a quality mark; and
• any other mark not calculated to mislead or deceive.

Gold of a minimum quality of 9K and a maximum quality of 24K must fall within the following prescribed tolerances for the application of a quality mark:

• The tolerance is 3 parts per 1,000 parts by weight where no solder is used.
• The tolerance is 7 parts per 1,000 parts by weight where solder is used.
• The tolerance is 15 parts per 1,000 parts by weight for 18K white gold where solder is used.

Silver of minimum .925 quality must fall within the following prescribed tolerances for the application of a quality mark:

• The tolerance is 2 parts per 1,000 parts by weight where no solder is used.
• The tolerance is 6 parts per 1,000 parts by weight where solder is used.

Platinum, or an alloy of platinum and iridium, or an alloy of platinum and ruthenium, must compose at least 95 percent of the metallic content of the article for the application of a quality mark. No legal tolerance is provided.

Palladium must compose at least 95 percent of the metallic content of the article for the application of a quality mark. No legal tolerance is provided.

An Alloy Of Palladium, whether with platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium or gold, must compose at least 90 percent of the metallic content of the article for the application of a quality mark. No legal tolerance is provided.

An article which meets the minimum quality requirement for Gold may be marked:

• "karat".
• "carat".
• "Karat".
• "Carat".
• "Kt.".
• "Ct.".
• "K".
• "C".

Alternatively, a decimal may be used to express the quality of gold, so that:

• An article having a quality of 10K could be marked as .416.
• An article having a quality of 14K could be marked as .583.
• An article having a quality of 18K could be marked as .750.

An article which meets the minimum quality requirement for Silver may be marked:

• "silver".
• "sterling silver".
• "sterling".
• "argent".
• "argent sterling".
• ".925" (This indicates the decimal fraction of pure silver in the article.).

Alternatively, an abbreviation for these words may be used:

• "ster.".
• "STG".

An article which meets the minimum quality requirement for Platinum may be marked:

• "platinum".
• "plat.".
• "platine".

An article which meets the minimum quality requirement for Palladium may be marked:

• "palladium".
• "pall.".

With two exceptions, where a quality mark is applied to a precious metal article, the article must also bear a Canadian trademark which is either:

• currently registered with the Registrar of Trademarks in Canada; or
• in the process of being registered, with proof that a trademark application has been submitted which is acceptable to the Minister.

For more information, including the publication, "A Guide To Trademarks", as well as an application form for a trademark, all correspondence should be addressed to:

An article which has a quality mark does not require a Canadian trademark if:

• the article is hallmarked in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom; or
• the article was quality marked in a foreign country under the laws of that country, and is accompanied with a government mark of that country which is recognized by the Department of Industry Canada.