Industry Insight
The hallmark on a 10kt yellow gold piece is typically stamped in an inconspicuous location (the inside of a ring shank, the back of a pendant, the clasp of a chain), with the mark small enough to require magnification in many cases. The 10K, 10KT, or 417 designation presents as a physical impression in the metal rather than applied to the surface, the stamp's depth and clarity being one indicator of production quality.