What should a jewelry hang tag or label show?

ZKZ Editorial TeamMain answer · Product & gemmology desk

Show what the product is made of, accurately and in plain words, plus the fineness mark where relevant, the brand name and contact details, and care instructions. Do not use words such as sterling or solid silver unless the product meets the legal standard in the market where you sell.

Rules we verified

Fact The FTC Jewelry Guides (16 CFR 23.5) say that using the words "Sterling Silver" or "Sterling" for an item may be misleading unless it is at least 925/1,000ths pure silver, and that using the unqualified word "silver" for an item may be misleading unless a quality fineness designation in parts per thousand precedes it. This is a US guide.

Fact Under 16 CFR 23.10, the FTC guide says that if a quality mark applies to only part of a product, the part to which it applies should be disclosed when otherwise the mark misrepresents the product.

Fact The UK government says a full UK hallmark has three compulsory marks, and that items over the minimum weight sold as silver must be hallmarked.

What to put on a tag

• Brand name and contact
• Material, such as 925 sterling silver, and any plating or coating
• Stone type, using accurate terms, such as lab-grown diamond
• Size or weight, where useful
• Care instructions

It depends Other markets may require extra labelling, such as country of origin, importer details or specific symbols. We did not verify these.

Keep the tag and the listing consistent

Our advice Whatever appears on the tag should match the product page, the invoice and the packaging. If a ring is described as sterling silver on the listing and as silver plated on the tag, a customer or an authority may read that as misleading. Create one approved text for each product, and use it everywhere, so changes are made in one place and copied to the rest.

Our advice Test the tag on a person who does not know the product. If they can say what the piece is made of and how to care for it after ten seconds, the tag is doing its job.

Uncertain This is a guide to claims, not a full legal checklist. Check requirements in each country.

Related reading: What should I do if my jewelry arrives damaged or not as described? · Private Label vs Custom Jewelry Manufacturing

Sources

• 16 CFR 23.5, FTC Jewelry Guides: misrepresentation as to silver content
• 16 CFR 23.10, FTC Jewelry Guides: additional guidance for the use of quality marks
• UK Government, hallmarking guidance notes

Fact = stated by the cited source. Our advice = editorial recommendation. Uncertain / it depends = limits of what can be said in general.