The marking “18K HGE” on a piece of jewellery indicates that it is made of 18-karat gold electroplated with heavy gold. The “HGE” in the stamp’s designation indicates that it is heavy gold electroplate. Brass is another material widely used in jewellery.
All precious metal jewellery must be marked with a three-digit number, and other markings may also be required. According to Foremost Jewelry, producers frequently place the identifiers on the package or tags rather than on small pieces. Gold-plated jewellery must also be tagged or stamped to authenticate the metal’s worth. Other designations for gold electroplate jewellery include “GE,” “EP,” “GEP,” “HE,” and “HGE.”