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Numbers Inside Ring Mean?

A lot of people write in asking me what the numbers inside their ring mean.

Usually they appear inside the bottom part of the band (also called the shank).

The numbers will actually be stamped, etched or engraved inside the ring and look similar to the one in the photo.

What do the numbers mean?

The numbers mean “carat weight“. It’s the carat weight of the diamond(s) in your ring.

If you have a diamond solitaire and you see .50 stamped inside the ring, that means the diamond is 1/2 carat.

.97 (like the ring in the photo) means that the diamond is 97 points, or just under one full carat (which is 100 points or 1.00 carat).

These numbers should match the carat weight listed on your receipt, certificate or appraisal.

Numbers can be confusing:

I’ve seen carat weight stamps inside a ring that was for the carat weight of the center stone alone… But, I’ve also seen stamps inside the ring that was the total carat weight of the entire ring (meaning you have more than one diamond in your ring).

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what the carat weight stamp is referring to.

After all, jewelers never stamp CW (carat weight) or CTW (carat total weight) inside the ring (at least that I’ve ever seen).

So it can be a quite a guessing game. Jewelers can always get out a mm gauge to double check what the weight is, or remove the stone from the mounting and officially weight it if there are any doubts.

Who stamps the rings?

Some large corporate jewelers stamp carat weights inside the ring, and maybe some designers do as well. I’ve never seen any independent jewelers do this, but that doesn’t mean they don’t.

Why do they stamp the rings?

They stamp the rings for a variety of reasons.

  • Identification
  • Policy
  • Protection

Let’s take a closer look…


When jewelers have to set 10 diamonds into 10 different rings, it can get pretty confusing in the shop keeping them straight.

Stamping the numbers inside the shank keeps the right diamond with the right paperwork and makes identifying the stone and tracking it much easier.


Policies like diamond guarantees…

When a customer brings their diamond ring in for a cleaning and inspection, the salesperson can quickly look at the ring and verifies that the diamond matches the diamond guarantee. It makes checking the ring and diamond a breeze.


It protects the jewelry stores.

When thieves come into the store (posing as regular customers), they try to switch diamond rings with the salespeople. They actually have a replica made with a fake diamond in it (like a CZ) that gets handed back to the salesperson (after they pretend to look at it), and then the real diamond ring gets palmed and dropped into a pocket.

Stamping exact carat weights inside a ring can help prevent this. A salesperson can quickly look inside the shank when they get the ring back and see the carat stamp and know that it’s their ring.

It really is a win-win situation.

Karat stamps:

Carat weight stamps should not be confused with karat stamps, which also appear inside the ring.

Every ring has a karat stamp in it, like 14k (which is the gold content like the ring in the photo), 18k or even Plat (for platinum).

Not every ring has a carat weight stamp, but they will all have a karat stamp (at least the rings sold in the USA).

Carat weight stamps are actually pretty rare. Only a few certain jewelers do this, so you may never even see one.

Losing your number stamps:

You may have a stamp inside your ring, but when you get your ring sized, that stamp could disappear.


Because the process of sizing a ring, cutting out a section of gold and fusing and filing it back together again, can actually cut that stamp out.

This happens with karat weight stamps as well, but jewelers usually put those back in.

Best way to identify your stone:

The best way to identify your stone isn’t by this carat weight stamp

It’s by certification! After all, someone could put a different diamond in that ring and that carat weight stamp would be useless. Certification is a different story…

Certification and laser inscription to be exact!

Certification numbers (like a GIA certificate) get etched directly onto the diamond (right on the girdle).

That’s the best way to identify your diamond. You can look at those numbers under a microscope or a 10x jeweler’s loupe and know it’s your stone. It not only is the best way to identify your diamond, but it’s the best way to prevent diamond switching.

Stamp or no stamp… Get your stone certified. Those are the important numbers. :)

Also read my latest post: What are the marks stamped inside rings?

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  1. My ring is gold & inside its stapmed 5210K. What does that mean? plzz any help would be appreciated. Thanks

  2. inside numbers are B25 its a oval shape with a one in a half inch rectanguler shape dimond on each side

  3. I have a stamp ring with number 17 on it wat does it mean

  4. Mine says 925 inside of it. its silver with a diamond, i haven’t ran tests to see if the diamond was real yet, but the band looks like real silver, sense it never turns my finger green. Please help me figure this out

    • that is the European stamp for sterling silver, the other 7.5% is usually copper because total silver is very soft. Some people get around it by silverplating and lying with the .925 so always ask. Just like necklace vendors in the parking lot with chains that have a tag saying 14K–the tag is 14K but the chain is probably fake

    • 925 refers to the silver part of your ring, basically Bai basically saying that the ring is silver.

    • 925 stands for sterling silver.

  5. I bought a ring and its stamped dia 525… What does that mean???

  6. I have a ring with925 inside with look like diamonds on top what is 925 silver or white gold????

  7. I have a ring that has stamped on the inside….S00886 3.69

    What on earth does that represent?

  8. I have a 10k gold ring with a chameleon colored stone with the number 3HD437 could you help me identify it

  9. I have a wedding band with 5 small diamonds an is stamped GND 0.25 10 k what’s this mean an also it does look it is a little tarished. Is it real ??

  10. I have a ring which says 525 do u know what thts mean

  11. I have a ring its white with 3 stone which are Amethyst stamped with number 225 and a $ sign in a horse shoe

  12. I have a (I think) gold ring with diamonds and inside it is stamped 18KH35 what do the numbers and letters mean? Can anyone help? I thought maybe 18K gold but I wondered why followed by H35?

  13. What does 10k ci mean on my ring and how do I no if the stones are real

  14. I bought a ring at an antique shop today for $1. It’s absolutely beautiful. I just don’t know if it’s real or not. The ring has an arrow with a U in it and something that looks like 11 or 1T soemthing like that

  15. Terry McMichael // March 9, 2016 at 1:40 pm // Reply

    I got a ring that’s stamped 525 ci can you tell me what it means

  16. gordon roberts // March 19, 2016 at 10:36 am // Reply

    i have aring whitch is stamped 825cz what does it mean

  17. I have a cocktail ring marked ART737 what does that mean it’s also 925

  18. What does 40k inside my ring band indicate?

  19. My yellow gold diamond ring has 18k inside the band with 33 next to it. What does that mean?

  20. I found a man’s wedding band and it looks fake but has a man’s and womans names engraved inside. It also has something that looks like a mountain and the letters or numbers TI or T1. What does it mean?

  21. tiffany maddox // October 5, 2016 at 4:27 pm // Reply

    I have a 9 and it also had a NR in it what does this mean?!?!

  22. How much is a tk316 ring wroth

    • I have a ring that has 8 tiny stones that look and sparkle like diamonds and is hard to analyze with a magnifying glass. It has 925, which I already know is Sterling silver, but it also has an A and a 9, or it could be a 6. Would any of those tell me if the diamonds are real?

  23. I have a diamond heart necklace with 925 stamp in it an right next it I got pt. It’s gold color. I have something else mark in it can’t make it out yet. Can you tell what it means?

  24. What does TK 316 stamp in ring mean? Help appreciated

  25. The back side of the ring looks to say 200 or 2000…can you tell me what that means?

  26. what is 3HD 602 meaning?

  27. What dose 318925 mexico mean

  28. Norma Basaldua // February 7, 2017 at 10:38 am // Reply

    I have a ring that has NR stamped on the inside. What does it mean?

  29. Lisa hennessey // February 27, 2017 at 6:21 pm // Reply

    What does WDC l C7 mean?

  30. I have a gold ring that has the marking 4k what does that mean?

  31. I have a silver ring (925) with AC112 stamped inside,
    What does that mean please

  32. I have a white gold 14k mans jade signet ring with two small diamonds.
    The only number inside is 165. What does it mean?

  33. What does a silver ring with the stamp two circular prints of something and the number 83.

  34. ROBERT MATUS // August 4, 2017 at 4:23 am // Reply

    Tk316 what does it mean? It also has 3 diamonds. It looks like platinum

  35. Christina Spencer // August 20, 2017 at 7:20 pm // Reply

    I have a 10k ring with the numbers C1 Inside what does that mean? Also i have a ring that says 10k with a circle°bigger than that circle with the letter c inside the circle please help me. The rings both have diamonds in them.

  36. Anthony Mottram // September 5, 2017 at 4:53 am // Reply

    I have a beautiful silver coloured ladies ring from about 1920s I am guessing. It has S 12 stamped on it. It has dark blue/ black stones and small diamonds. I have used a diamond tester on it, according to the tester all the stones are diamonds. I have checked if the tester works on non and real stones and seems ok.

  37. I have a ring thats stamped 10kp 4.01. What does this stamp mean and how much carrats would it be??

  38. James o'connor // October 5, 2017 at 10:46 am // Reply

    I have a ring with 1154/8 engraved in the inside of the ring can you tell me what this means also there are the usual 375 stamp and hallmarks,i would be greatfull for any information,kind regards

  39. Mary Ann Moreno // October 22, 2017 at 3:49 am // Reply

    What is the meaning of 52 inside the yellow gold ring?

  40. Marilyn Hartzenburg // November 1, 2017 at 4:33 am // Reply

    I have a silver ring with small diamonds i dnt know if the diamonds is real,,,bt inside its stamped s25 pls tell me what does ths mean thnx..

  41. My ring is a princess cut diamond, supposedly outstanding clarity, but on the inside of the ring it just says RGC 14K

  42. What about an engraving that says 18K W G F?? I think that’s 18 karat white gold filled? How much would something like that be worth??

  43. Staci Roberts // November 24, 2017 at 12:11 am // Reply

    I have a ring that has 6diamonds three on one side three on another side then a big one in the middle which is fine because it was taking out so that i could get my own the way I wanted it. On the inside it say FI STER/10k what does this mean

  44. Heather Maglone // November 29, 2017 at 12:22 pm // Reply

    I have a beautiful ring that is 10k but it’s also has SD×3 on it could you help me with what that could possibly mean I’m just curious

  45. What does the number 34 mean stamped inside a “gold” ring mean? The ring has 14 small diamonds surrounding a center stone that is missing??

  46. Stamp is CI69??

  47. I have a 14k gold ring with white and green stones with markings mp and 101 on it any info???

  48. Paula Taylor // December 22, 2017 at 1:08 pm // Reply

    I purchased my friends to g just to give her some extra cash. I’m almost positive it’s not real. But it’s a silver color with a blue stone and a skull on each side with blue stones as the eyes. But stamped inside is 10k on one side and 14 k on the other side. What does this mean???

  49. I have a gold ring with a 18 of a square it does not have a k beside it what does that mean

  50. My ring is stamped tk315 please what does it mean

  51. Elizabeth Walden // January 28, 2018 at 12:04 pm // Reply

    I have a 14k ring an inside it has 14k cw9 an the other side has .23 what does this mean an what’s the value

  52. I’m trying to find out if a ring I’ve had & forgotten about is vintage. There’s a 4 digit number etched along the inside, on the upper side rather than bottom, but nothing obvious… like “14k” or “925”. Just the four digits. It’s in the original jewelry box (if the box Is for THAT ring) along with the little paper about quality/guarantee, which surely IS “vintage. Anyway, besides taking it to jeweler, anyone know if there’s a site that might help me ?

    • Hi Kathy , it could possibly be the year it was made I do have a few pieces like that , if not a year could be the quantity # that you have say they made 5000 & you have 1895, hope this helps.

  53. Michael Leonard // February 23, 2018 at 3:26 pm // Reply

    I got a ring that has a number 10 stamped inside of it and I don’t know what that means. I was kind of curious if anybody’s got advice or whoever knows.

  54. Inside my ring it says “NRT” but I know what that is. Inside my ring it also says “8”, what does that mean?????

  55. My necklace has 925 mai. What does this mean

    • Brittany 8 is probably the size of your ring & NRT is your hallmark on the 925 necklace that’s for silver925 & MAI is your hallmark.

  56. I’ve got a diamond solitaire ring its marked 10k which I know what that is but also I see 125 I don’t see a decimal or anything else , any help would be really great , thanks in advance :)

  57. Hi! My ring have the stamp: ANT S P 34|PL 950 what does it mean?? Is Platinum?? Thanks.

  58. I have a ruby and diamond ring on the inside is stamped 10K MM what does the MM stand for?

  59. terri taylor // August 8, 2018 at 6:50 pm // Reply

    My ring has ELO *43 14KO.55 What does this mean?

  60. I have a gold ring 10k with the numbers A193, what does this mean?

  61. Susan Daugherty // August 17, 2018 at 2:41 pm // Reply

    Hello, I have a sterling silver ring with 925 stamped of one side/inside of the band and the #7 stamped on the opposite side. Just wondered what the number 7 means.

  62. Sue Daugherty // August 18, 2018 at 3:45 pm // Reply

    How about a ring stamped 92516 TH?

  63. Miss Thompson // September 8, 2018 at 12:42 pm // Reply

    I have a ring that I found. It has like 60 some very small diamonds. It has stamped on the underside ALE R 50, but not .50. I know what the triangle and ALE stands for, haven’t figured out the R just yet.

    Anyways my question is what does the 50 stand for, since it doesn’t have a period in front of it and there’s so many tiny diamonds? I’m a bit confused on that part.

    I’d gladly appreciate the help.

    • Sometimes a letter, like R could stand for Round, or Rectangle. It could also stand for things like Radiant, Ruby… or even just Ring. If I were to guess without seeing the ring, I would say round .50 ctw. -Richard

  64. Carolyn Clark // November 29, 2018 at 11:29 am // Reply

    I have a ring stamped 136 (or possibly 15 sold as gold. Can’t find info on this,can you assist please? Carolyn

  65. I have a jade ring which has a 925 which means it is silver. But it has
    9 AV? What does than mean?

  66. I have a ring that has D925 in it what’s it mean

  67. I have a silver ring that says CN .925? What does this mean? Is it real?

  68. Deborah brown // March 6, 2019 at 6:01 am // Reply

    What does 925 AC112cz mean stamped on inside of my ring please

  69. Lori Bolling // March 7, 2019 at 8:29 am // Reply

    I have a ring with lsc 14k with numbers then 1.00 in it what does this mean

  70. Jacquelyn Dill // March 24, 2019 at 12:46 pm // Reply

    I have a ring with 901 and 845 inside the band what does that mean.

  71. I have a 9ct gold ring with a blue stone it has hallmarks and the last hallmark is a number 2

  72. I have a silver looking ring with the number 55 inside. What does the 55 mean.

  73. Karen Bernard // May 8, 2019 at 8:20 pm // Reply

    My earing has s 47,Could you please let me know what does that mean. Thanks

  74. Have a diamond ring with lsc I know this stands for lsc Shaffer company but it has 10 after lsc what does this stand For? Thanks in advance

  75. I have a silver ring with 18 stamped inside it… Also it does not stick to metal what does this mean

  76. I have a ring that has A193 on one side and 10k on the other side both are inside the band what do they mean? I also have another that says 925.2 any answers would be great thank you

  77. Julia Granada // August 27, 2019 at 7:03 am // Reply

    What does it mean when I have a 97 with a circle around It then next to that theres a .25

  78. I have a diamond ring that has 54s stamped on the inside; what would that mean?

  79. Julie mulroy // October 29, 2019 at 3:50 am // Reply

    I have a flowers ring it looks good but not sure it just has a ten printed inside the ring

  80. 1ks or tks means?

  81. I have a men’s gold ring with a little bit of silver on each side of the band with 18 little diamonds and three larger diamonds in the middle. It’s stamped A&C 39
    And also Stamped 375 ? Could you please tell me what this means? The diamonds look real as well.

  82. What does 18ct 352 mean please?

  83. What does 7 X’s mean

  84. Brian Blankenship // December 18, 2019 at 12:19 pm // Reply

    What does 10k 1tw mean

  85. LDSRG 12DIAS.12CTW10KWG2.1G

  86. Terra Johnson // January 4, 2020 at 4:17 am // Reply

    what does C10< stand for on a ring

  87. Amanda Snider // January 17, 2020 at 5:29 pm // Reply

    What does a 9 then a engraved diamond and 925 mean on a ring?

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