There are two issues for me.  One is eBay compliance with UK law and hallmarking requirements, the second is the eBay definition of what is a gemstone that doesn't fit with the rest of the worlds thinking.

Here's my issue/ suggestion with the metal wording (I'll post with the gemstone issues at the end of this):

Current homogenised US Jewelry/ UK jewellery policy metal rules:

Rules for metals

• If your item is made from plated, flashed or filled metals, you will need to clearly state this in the title, item specifics and item description, such as "gold-plated silver"
• Platinum, gold and silver items must meet applicable laws for stamping:
• Gold stamps: 9K, 10k, 14k, 18k, 22k, 24k
• Silver stamps: Sterling Silver, .925, .999
• Platinum stamps: Plat, Pt, 950Plat, 900Pt

Areas of conflict

Here are a few conflicting issues:

The K on the US stamp stands for Karat – outside the US this is carat and abbreviated to ct.

14k USA = 583 parts gold per thousand – in the UK/ Europe/ India 14ct is 585 parts per thousand

9ct gold/ 375 stamped gold should not be sold as gold in the US – 10k/ 417 hallmark

8ct gold 333 stamp is recognised and marked in much of Europe (incl. Germany and Italy)

Suggested rules for metals UK

• If your item is made from plated, flashed or filled metals, you will need to clearly state this in the title, item specifics and item description, such as "gold-plated silver"
• Silver, palladium, gold and platinum items must meet applicable laws for stamping:
• Silver stamps: 800, 925, 958, 999
• Palladium stamps: 500, 950, 999
• Gold stamps: 375, 585, 750 ,916 ,990, 999
• Platinum stamps: 850, 900, 950, 999
• Articles above these weights must be hallmarked:

• Silver 7.78g
• Palladium 1g
• Gold 1g
• Platinum 0.5g

It would help the platform be compliant with the hallmarking act if it displayed the online British Hallmarking Council dealer notice – or linked to it.

Gemstone issue:

For what is fine jewellery please would you consider simplifying the very complex rules written to be the following:

What is considered Fine Jewellery (UK)?

Fine jewellery is composed primarily of fine materials.

Fine metals

• Gold that is 9 carats or higher, including rose, green, chocolate or white gold
• Silver and sterling silver that is 925 parts per thousand, or higher
• Platinum and other platinum-group metals that are 850 or above
• Hallmarked metals where the metal fineness has been verified by an assay office.
• Gold, silver and platinum are considered fine if they are a solid metal or if they have been plated with gold, silver, platinum, palladium or other platinum-group metals

Fine gemstones

• Natural gemstones
• Laboratory created gemstones where the gemstone has the same mineral composition as the natural gemstone

What is considered Fashion Jewellery?

If the item does not meet the criteria above to be considered fine jewellery, the item should be listed in the Fashion Jewellery category.

Fashion metals

If the base metal is not gold, silver or a platinum group metal, the jewellery is considered fashion, even if the metal is plated with gold, silver or platinum group metal.

Fashion gemstones

• Simulated gemstones are considered fashion jewellery

Please could we also add within treatment:

• Specify clearly in the title if the treatment of the gem is unknown “Treatment Unknown”

Much jewellery would fall into the 'Treatment Unknown' - testing that gemstones are natural or having a traceable supply chain for this is a simple enough process - the test for treatment is more complex.  Just get a certificate is a great statement but a basic stone verification certificate is around £45+ VAT (per stone) plus two lots of special delivery postage - so thats quite a chunk on the price.  More detailed reports breaking down treatment are well over £100+ VAT plus postage, per stone.

The current gemstone list misses quite a few and a few listed in the fashion jewellery list are obscure.  Onyx has frequently been seen as the main stone in very high end collections.  Cartier did an amazing black onyx collection (lots of examples on eBay well over £20k), other manufacturers have done collections with green onyx - there are examples on eBay where the main stone is green onyx, the price tag over $100,000 and this policy is suggesting these should now be a fashion item - In my area of the North West you can buy a home for this!  Are we saying anything with a pearl is fashion, tanzanite is debated between beeing precious and semi precious but has grown enormously in popularity and the story behind the mining of the gemstone and attempts to ensure a fair share for Tanzanians is something that is a wonder to read about.  Yet its another unlisted gemstone so do we relegate to fashion?  In a more modest price range I have a lot of hallmarked branded pieces of gold fine jewellery that are white topaz - not fashion, future family heirlooms.  But relegated to fashion.

I'm avoiding the busy task created by this policy change without notice hoping sense will prevail!