Articles of precious metals, jewellery and watches

An entrepreneur in the precious metals industry can check this website for up-to-date requirements applicable to articles of precious metals and apply for a responsibility mark for their company.

Consumers can use the site to find information on articles of precious metals to support their purchasing decisions.

What is an article of precious metal?

For example, an article of precious metal may be a piece of jewellery, a watch or a cutlery item made of gold, silver, palladium or platinum that has a minimum fineness of the precious metal in question. 

In order for a product to be sold as an article of precious metal, its precious metal fineness must be at least: 

  • platinum 500
  • gold 375 
  • palladium 500, and
  • silver 800 parts per thousand for each precious metal by mass.

For example, the minimum gold fineness means that the gold fineness of the article must be at least 37.5%. If you later choose to sell your piece of jewellery to a buyer of materials, they will pay for the material based on its precious metal fineness.

Requirements for articles of precious metal

  • The fineness is marked on the product and is correct. Finenesses lower than that indicated by the mark are not allowed.
  • The precious metal  is indicated by the fineness mark.
  • A fineness approved in Finland is used in the mark.
  • In addition to the fineness mark, the article bears 
    • a responsibility mark registered with Tukes 
    • an Assay Office mark of an EU member state, or 
    • a CCM mark.
  • A mark is not required on lightweight products, see exception. However, lightweight products must also meet the other requirements.
  • Only approved solders have been used for soldering.
  • The product has not been reinforced or filled, or its weight has not been increased, with any other material or metal. An exception to this requirement applies to cutlery and similar products.
  • Different materials have been combined in compliance with regulations.

When is a product not an article of precious metal even if it contains precious metal?

The product is not an article of precious metal if

  • The minimum fineness requirement is not met. 
  • The product has only been coated with a precious metal. Products made of a base metal coated with precious metals, such as gold-plated chains or silver-plated spoons, are not articles of precious metals.
  • Only a small precious metal component has been attached to a piece of jewellery made of other metals
  • The product is silver in colour but not made of a precious metal

Such products may not be referred to as articles of precious metals, gold jewellery, silver spoons, etc. The terms article of precious metal, gold, silver, platinum and palladium are reserved for products that meet the requirements set for articles of precious metals.

Products that do not meet the requirements for articles of precious metals may not be marked with marks intended for such articles. Tukes controls products to ensures that marks are only used in articles of precious metals.

All products that exceed the minimum fineness are articles of precious metal even if they do not meet all the requirements for these articles. While so-called lightweight products are also articles of precious metals, they do not need to be marked. Articles of precious metals are subject to the relevant statutes, and Tukes may intervene in the sale of non-compliant products.