Does "F18K" mean GOLD FILLED, or...?

Greetings, I have, I hope, a simple question (or 2).
I have some gold filled and gold plated jewelry inherited from a friend who used to have a little traveling side business selling costume jewelry at retirement homes and such.
With the price of gold these days, I have seen that scrap buyers & refiners are even buying gold filled by weight. Since I don't have much use for some of this jewelry, I am picking out pieces that are MARKED as Gold Filled in order to sell them.
There are some pieces marked as the one pictured, "OK" (maker/distributer?) over "F18K". I have searched the 'net for info on "F18K" with mixed results; none of which seem authoritative.
I trust there are those HERE who can tell me whether the "F" means "FILLED" - or something else.
Bonus question: Well-marked Gold Filled pieces will also include a ratio, such as 1/10 or 1/20. I have some chains that are marked 14/20 (1/20th of 14K, right?), but others that only say only "18KGF". Should I assume that to mean it has the minimum amount of gold required to be called "Gold Filled" (would that be 1/20?, or?), or is "GF" alone suspect?
I hope I am posing my questions clearly. I appreciate all responses on this forum!

 

what is the mark on the lobster claw...?



.for certainty , it all needs to be tested....... a buyer usually , and should not take the mark as legit with all the fake marks available today.

 

meaning no disrespect........ but....

".a little traveling side business selling costume jewelry at retirement homes and such."

to my mind.... that's a big red flag !!!!!!!!!

 

It is 18K. Notice the jump ring on the marking is silver soldered. The ring to the clasp is not. May be replacement clasp or repair.

 

The clasp is straight costume and the link that holds it on isn't soldered. The rest looks good though.

 

Good question- the clasp is NOT MARKED, at all. I noticed it is not soldered on, either. The clasp looks to me like Gold Plate.

I am familiar with all of these standard marks. I just wondered whether anyone knows anything about these marks. From the varied responses I see here, it seems like they have not.

What about pieces marked "18K GF" with no ratio? Would they be 1/20th (the minimum?) Gold Filled, or...?

I also have some marked "14/20", which suggests to me they are 1/20th 14K Gold- but is THAT legitimate?

I believe I have had pieces marked "K14" or "K18" that did test as solid gold, that is why I wonder whether the reversed "F" in these marks might be used somewhere.

As all of these are Gold Filled and/or Plated, not solid gold, I have no way to test them. Because I am thinking to sell these online as scrap, there is no testing there, either, so I need to describe things accurately.

I appreciate your attention and responses as one of the jewelry "experts" on this forum. I am hoping someone has some info on these specific marks, since that is all I have to go on.

 

I understand how that may sound, but the gentleman was a pastor who just did this to supplement his ministry.
He more recently developed Parkinson's Disease, and is now living with his children in his native Bahamas, but I know him as one of the kindest people you could ever meet. Before going back to his country due to his illness, he asked me to take his remaining inventory (he already had not be dealing with the jewelry for many years) and sell it however I can, and split the revenue between myself and a charity he (and I) both support.
He is a real, caring, people person, and enjoyed the opportunity the jewelry allowed him to visit and brighten the lives of people who may not have been getting much attention or excitement in their old age.

 

I'd be really, really leery of selling scrap precious metal on eBoo. Too many scammers, and that's if the USPS doesn't mess things up before the buyer even has a chance at it. I'd consign to an honorable local auction, where all sales are final.

 

What about pieces marked "18K GF" with no ratio? Would they be 1/20th (the minimum?) Gold Filled, or...?

1/20th........ at least , or it would say better !!

 

I am familiar with all of these standard marks.

Great........ but you are not the only one who is reading this thread , and the more info... the better !!

 

...I also have some marked "14/20", which suggests to me they are 1/20th 14K Gold- but is THAT legitimate?

There's your mark....... so yes legit !!
If there's gold in the clasp , it will say so.

Now , as to stating that.."
I just wondered whether anyone knows anything about these marks. From the varied responses I see here, it seems like they have not."
.
In all fairness , it hasn't been 24 hours since you posted this thread , several members have responded , trying to be helpful , whether you like the answers or not .
We , as a group do our level headed best to be timely and correct , and that's why you come to us for help !

but ......

we do not work on command , and getting the right answers can take more than a day, as we are not all here all the time.............. so cut us some slack before throwing shade !

 

Sorry, I certainly didn't mean to offend. I come here because I have often seen the wealth of knowledge available.
Having seen a few answers from names I recognize, it just made me think I have something either obscure or downright fishy. Either way, I appreciate that I get the BEST possible answers here. My apologies if it didn't sound that way.
I'll continue monitoring the thread in anticipation of any more information yet to come.
As always, I APPRECIATE any and all answers and/or opinions.

 

Absolutely!

 

Thanx, that's what I figured. I just wanted to be sure the lack of ratio was not a disqualification of it being Gold Filled, at all.

 

That's sound advice, as to solid gold scrap, at least. I do sell scrap gold in Miami to major buyers. I don't think they care to mess with gold filled, but I know people who are selling GF well on eBoo with gold at this level. I don't have a good outlet for this kind of stuff, so might as well turn it over.
I do occasionally sell better pieces online and have not had any issues with that. Part of the reason is I am very careful about my descriptions. The last thing I want is to go through all the trouble of sourcing, buying, preparing, listing, selling, and shipping something, to have it all be for naught!

 

The last thing you need is a chargeback two months down the road from an honest, if confused, buyer ... or 5 months later from a scammer who watched a Youtube video about getting stuff for free.

For Komo: 14/20 is short for 1/20 14kGF instead of 12k. It was around for a while in the 80s. It's a legit mark.

 

that's why I posted a photo of a clasp bearing the mark the OP was asking about...

 

First, this is an antiques forum.
We indulge people who come with non-antique items because we know it can be important on a personal level or to supplement their income. It is a personal favour and I hope it is appreciated as such.

Second, I live in Europe, and so do quite a lot of our other 'joolies'. The only legal marks we have are assay marks on precious metals.
Marks on plated base metal are not recogized is having legal status or importance here. They are up to the (foreign) manufacturer. Those marks can be extremely varied and not always truthful.
So no, as a collector of period and ethnic jewellery I can't be expected to concern myself with fancy modern marks that have no legal significance.

If you are not sure about a modern piece, fancy mark or not, it is best to have it tested. This is advice we often give.

A person can be the sweetest person on earth and not know about jewellery or precious metals.
Maybe it would feel right for both of you to donate the necklace to charity.