These marks mean the gold or silver is a layer over another metal, not solid all the way through. A number such as 14K next to them describes only the outer layer.
| Stamp | Meaning |
|---|---|
GP | Gold plated. A thin layer of gold over a base metal such as brass or copper. |
GEP | Gold electroplate. Under the US FTC Jewelry Guides, at least 10K gold about 0.18 microns thick. |
HGE | Heavy gold electroplate. At least 10K gold about 2.5 microns thick under the FTC guides. HGP is a common variant. |
RGP | Rolled gold plate. Gold bonded to a base metal, less than 1/20 of the total weight. Often marked 1/40 14K RGP. |
GF | Gold filled. A thicker bonded layer, at least 1/20 of the total weight. Often marked 1/20 14K GF or 14K GF. |
Vermeil | Sterling silver with a gold layer of at least 10K, about 2.5 microns thick. |
EP or EPNS | Electroplated nickel silver. Silver plating over nickel silver, an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc that contains no silver. |
SP or Silverplate | A thin layer of silver over a base metal. |
As metal, very little. The gold on plated jewelry is far too thin to be worth refining. Gold filled carries more gold than plate and some refiners buy it, but at a small fraction of what solid gold of the same weight is worth. Vermeil's value is mostly its sterling silver.
That does not make a plated piece worthless. Vintage costume jewelry from known designers, signed pieces and good craftsmanship can sell well on their own merits.
No. 14K GF or 1/20 14K GF means a layer of 14K gold bonded to a base metal, making up at least 1/20 of the total weight. The piece is not solid 14K gold.
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Heavy gold electroplate: a layer of at least 10K gold about 2.5 microns thick over another metal. It is not solid gold.
Gold filled has a much thicker layer of gold, at least 1/20 of the total weight, so it lasts longer than plate. It is still not solid gold.