Advisory opinion letter to Mr. Torin: the above abbreviation together with a tag attached affirmatively…

Dear Mr. Torin:

This is a request pursuant to Section 1.1 of the Commission’s Procedures and Rules of Practice for an Advisory Opinion. _ We have been requested by a member not presently engaged in the following practices to advise them as to the propriety of stamping “18K H G. E.” on items of jewelry manufactured for ultimate sale to consumers. The initials are abbreviations for the marking, “Heavy Gold. Electroplate.” We have been further requested to advise in the event abbreviations are found capable of deception, whether the above abbreviation together with a tag attached affirmatively disclosing the item is “18K Heavy Gold Electroplate” would avoid the possibility of deception.

The Commission in its Advisory Opinion to Parker Pen Company CCH 19,802 announced September 30, 1971 stated that abbreviation of the term “electroplate” or “electroplated” to indicate that an item