Precious Metals Marking Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1303)

Bracelet Watch Cases

• 9 (1) A quality mark specified in Column I of an item of the table to this section may be applied to a bracelet watch case if

  • (a) in respect of a quality mark specified in Column I of item 1 or 2 of the table, a sheet of gold that is at least 10 karats in quality is soldered or brazed,

  • (b) in respect of a quality mark specified in Column I of item 3 of the table, a sheet of silver that is at least 925 parts by weight per 1,000 parts pure silver in quality is soldered or brazed,

  • (c) in respect of a quality mark specified in Column I of item 4 of the table, gold that is at least 10 karats in quality is plated by any means, or

  • (d) in respect of a quality mark specified in Column I of item 5 of the table, silver that is at least 925 parts by weight per 1,000 parts pure silver in quality is plated by any means

  to at least the thickness specified in Column II of that item to the entire outer surface of the bezel, the centre, if any, the lugs and the back of the watch case.

• (2) Where only

  • (a) the bezel, centre and lugs, or

  • (b) the bezel

  of a bracelet watch case are plated as described in subsection (1), a quality mark specified in Column I of an item of the table to this section may be applied to the case if it is stamped, branded, engraved or imprinted in the location and accompanied by the words specified in Column III or IV of that item, whichever is applicable.

• (3) Where a quality mark specified in Column I of item 4 or 5 of the table to this section is applied to a bracelet watch case plated with gold or silver respectively to a thickness of at least five micrometres, a statement of the thickness of the gold or silver expressed as a whole numeral and followed immediately by the word “micrometres”, or the symbol “vm” therefor, may be applied to the watch case in conjunction with the quality mark.

  	Column I	Column II	Column III	Column IV
  Item	Quality Mark	Minimum Thickness of Gold or Silver	Location of mark and words to accompany it where the plated components are: bezel, centre (if any) and lugs only	Bezel only
  1	“gold filled”, “G.F.” or “doublé d’or” together with the quality of the gold expressed in karats or decimals in characters of the same size as those employed in the quality mark	75 micrometres	On the outer surface of the bezel and centre with the words “base metal back” or “fond en métal commun” or the name of the base metal and the word “back” or “fond” on the outer surface of the back of the case, or on the outer or inner surface of the back together with the words “base metal back” or “fond en métal commun” or the name of the base metal and the word “back” or “fond”	On the outer surface of the bezel with the words “base metal” or “métal commun” or the name of the base metal on the outer surface of the back of the case, or on the outer or inner surface of the back together with the words “bezel” or “biseau” and “base metal” or “métal commun” or the name of the base metal
  2	“rolled gold plate”, “R.G.P.” or “plaqué d’or laminé ” together with the quality of the gold expressed in karats or decimals in characters of the same size as those employed in the quality mark	35 micrometres	Idem	Idem
  3	“silver filled”, “S.F.”, “doublé d’argent”	75 micrometres	Idem	Idem
  4	“gold electro-plate”, “gold plated”, “G.E.P.”, “electroplaqué d’or”, or “or plaqué”	5 micrometres	Idem	Idem
  5	“Silver electro-plate”, “silver plate”, “silver plated”, “electro-plaqué d’argent”, “plaqué d’argent” or any abbreviation for any of the foregoing	5 micrometres	Idem	Idem

Spectacle Frames

• 10 (1) A quality mark specified in Column I of an item of the table to this section may be applied to a spectacle frame that

  • (a) is plated with gold of at least 10 karats in quality, and

  • (b) meets the requirements specified in Columns II and III of that item

  by stamping, branding, engraving or imprinting it on the frame front and at least one temple of the frame.

• (2) Where a quality mark specified in Column I of item 1 or 2 of the table to this section is applied to a spectacle frame,

  • (a) a fraction showing the ratio of the weight of the gold in the frame to the gross weight of the frame, and

  • (b) a statement of the quality of the gold expressed in karats or decimals

  may be applied immediately preceding the quality mark.

• (3) All numerals and characters expressing fractions or statements of quality authorized to be applied to an article by subsection (2) shall be of equal size and not larger than the quality mark referred to in subsection (1).

• (4) Where a quality mark specified in Column I of item 3 of the table to this section is applied to a spectacle frame plated with gold to a thickness of at least one micrometre, a statement of the thickness of the gold expressed as a whole numeral and followed immediately by the word “micrometre”, or the symbol “vm” therefor, may be applied to the frame in conjunction with the quality mark.

  	Column I	Column II	Column III
  	Quality Mark	Quantity Precious Metal in the Article	Method of Plating
  1	“gold filled”, “G.F.” or “doublé d’or”	Gold in plating 1/20, or such larger fraction as may be represented, of the gross weight of the entire article multiplied by (a)  the quality of the gold, where represented in karats or decimals; or (b)  0.416 where no representation in karats or decimals is made.	Sheet of gold soldered or sweated
  2	“rolled plate”, “R.P.”, “rolled gold plate”, “R.G.P.”, “placage laminé” or “plaqué d’or laminé”	Gold in plating less than 1/20, or such smaller fraction as may be represented, of the gross weight of the entire article multiplied by (a)  the quality of the gold, where represented in karats or decimals; or (b)  0.416 where no representation in karats or decimals is made.	Sheet of gold soldered or sweated
  3	“gilt”, “gold plated”, “G.E.P.”, “doré” or “or plaqué”		Any means

Plated Flatware

• 11 (1) A quality mark specified in Column I of item 1 or 2 of the table to this section may be applied to an article of flatware that is plated with silver that is at least 925 parts by weight in every 1,000 parts pure silver.

• (2) A quality mark specified in Column I of items 3 to 7 of the table to this section may be applied to an article of flatware that has applied to it silver

  • (a) that is at least 925 parts by weight in every 1,000 parts pure silver;

  • (b) as primary plating to a thickness equal to that of the primary plating on a teaspoon that is of the same pattern as such article, if the amount of silver used to uniformly plate a gross of such teaspoons is that prescribed in Column II of the table for that mark; and

  • (c) as an overlay at the point of greatest wear, where applicable, to a thickness equal to that of the primary plating and in an amount at least as great as that prescribed in Column III of the table for that mark.

• (3) A quality mark specified in Column I of item 3 of the table to section 7 may be applied to an article of flatware that is plated with gold that is at least 10 karats in quality.

• (4) Where a quality mark is applied to an article of flatware pursuant to subsection (3) and the article is plated with gold to a thickness of at least one micrometre, a statement of the thickness of the gold expressed as a whole numeral and followed immediately by the word “micrometre”, or the symbol “vm” therefor, may be applied to the frame in conjunction with the quality mark.

• (5) Where 10 percent or more by weight of the base metal in an article of flatware to which a quality mark specified in Column I of item 3 of the table to section 7 or in Column 1 of an item of the table to this section is applied is pure nickel, the expression “nickel-silver”, “nickel-argent” or “N.S.” may be applied to the article in conjunction with the quality mark.

• (6) Where less than 10 per cent by weight of the base metal in an article of gold-plated or silver-plated flatware is pure nickel, the name of the base metal shall be stamped on the article and the trademark shall be applied in conjunction therewith.

  	Column I	Column II	Column III
  Item	Quality Mark	Amount of Silver used as primary plating on a gross of teaspoons	Amount of Silver in the Overlay
  1	“silverplate”, “placage d’argent”, “Silverplated”, “plaqué d’argent”, “silverware”, “argenterie”, “S.P.” or “E.P.”
  2	The quantity of pure silver, expressed in grams or milligrams, in a gross of articles of the same size and design and plated in the same manner and to the same thickness
  3	“A.I.”	60 grams
  4	“A.I.X.”, “A.I.+.” or “A.I. EXTRA”	60 grams	65 milligrams
  5	“A.A.+.”, “A.A.I.+.” or “A.A.I. EXTRA”	120 grams	100 milligrams
  6	“triple plate” or “triple placage”	180 grams
  7	“quadruple” or “XXXX”	240 grams

Plated Hollow Ware

• 12 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), every article of hollow ware, other than a Sheffield reproduction article, that is a gold-plated or silver-plated article shall have stamped, branded, engraved or imprinted on it in a legible and conspicuous manner, the name of the base substance or such other word or words that accurately describe the base substance of the article and mount, if any, and the trademark shall be applied in conjunction therewith.

• (2) Where 10 per cent or more by weight of the base metal in an article of hollow ware plated with gold or silver is pure nickel, such base metal may be identified by the expression “nickel-silver”, “nickel-argent” or “N.S.”.

• (3) Where 90 per cent or more by weight of the base metal in an article of hollow ware that is a plated article is tin, such base metal may be identified by the expression “britannia metal”, “métal anglais”, “white metal”, “métal blanc”, “B.M.” or “W.M.”.

• (4) A quality mark specified in Column I of an item of the table to this section may be applied to an article of hollow ware that

  • (a) is plated with the precious metal specified in Column II of that item; and

  • (b) meets the requirements specified in Columns III and IV of that item.

• (5) Where a quality mark specified in Column I of item 1 or 2 of the table to this section is applied to an article of hollow-ware plated with gold or silver respectively to a thickness of at least one micrometre, a statement of the thickness of the gold or silver expressed as a whole numeral and followed immediately by the word “micrometre”, or the symbol”µm” therefor may be applied to the article in conjunction with the quality mark.

  	Column I	Column II	Column III	Column IV
  	Quality Mark	Precious Metal	Minimum Quality of Precious Metal in Plating	Other Requirements
  1	“gold electroplate”, “gold plated”, “G.E.P.”, “electro-plaqué d’or” or “or plaqué”	Gold	10 karats
  2	“silverplate” “silverplated” “silverware”, “E.P.”, “S.P.”, “placage d’argent” “plaqué d’argent” or “argenterie”	Silver	925 parts by weight in every 1,000 parts pure silver
  3	“Sheffield reproduction” or “reproduction of Sheffield plate”	Silver	925 parts by weight in every 1,000 parts pure silver	(a) base on which plating is done must be nickel or pure copper; (b) a border must be soldered to the edge of the article; and (c) the border and any mounts, whether solid or filled, must be of silver, nickel or copper