Researched Chow Tai Fook guide
Chow Tai Fook Authentication
Who can check Chow Tai Fook gold: a free store re-check with the slip in mainland China, a lab for the metal, or a photo review. What each cannot prove.
Doubt a piece? Send photos for an expert review.
Direct answer
To authenticate a Chow Tai Fook piece, you have three routes. In mainland China, Chow Tai Fook says its stores re-check jewelry bought from it for free if you show the guarantee slip. Elsewhere, ask the store first. A lab can test the metal. Vereev reviews photos of the marks, workmanship, packaging and papers, with AI assisting and human experts deciding, but it cannot test metal purity.
How to Tell if Chow Tai Fook Gold Is RealAlso searched as: CTF

Complete review
How to approach Chow Tai Fook authentication
Which piece, and where it was bought
Note the material on the receipt or tag, such as 18K/750 or 999 Gold, and where you bought the piece. The place decides the route, because the official slip check and the store services differ by place.
Clasps and joins
Photograph the clasp and joins as well as the body. Guangzhou Daily warned in 2016 that clasps on high-purity pieces can differ in gold content from the body, yet may still be weighed and priced with it. Ask whether the receipt weight includes the clasp.
Marks that agree with the papers
Marks such as 足金, 999, 750 and Pt950 should agree with the material and purity on the receipt, and the piece should weigh what the receipt says. Agreement is only a start, because reported fakes have passed these checks too.
The guided jewelry photos
Vereev's jewelry photo guide shows each view to send, such as the whole piece, the stamp or hallmark, the box and the packaging. Photograph every stamp you can find, clasps included, and cover any codes or personal details on papers.
Photo guide
Photos to take of your Chow Tai Fook jewelry
The Vereev app's photo guide for jewelry lists these 4 angles, and the numbers on the drawing match the list.
Main Item
Capture the whole piece clearly against a plain background.
Stamp
Show hallmarks, metal stamps, serial marks, engraving, or logo details in sharp focus.
Box
Include the box, pouch, card, or receipt if available.
Packaging
Photograph packaging materials, labels, and included accessories.
Follow the same angles in the app
The Vereev app shows a sample photo for each angle when you submit Chow Tai Fook jewelry. Sharp, same-item photos give the reviewer the evidence this page describes; packaging and documents help when you have them.
See the app's 4 sample photos for jewelryBrand evidence guide
What to review on Chow Tai Fook items
Where did you buy it? Which check applies
Start with the place of purchase. Chow Tai Fook (CTF) offers different checks and store services in each place, and a rule for one place does not carry over to another. The table shows what CTF's own pages said on 2 November 2026. The steps for each lookup are in the Chow Tai Fook certificate check guide.
| Place | Online check | In-store route |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 商品核验 at ctfmall.com, for guarantee slips from purchases since 28 April 2016, with named exclusions | CTF says any CTF specialty store re-checks jewelry bought from CTF for free, on showing the slip |
| Hong Kong | No public lookup for gold papers found. T·MARK diamonds have a trace box | After-sales cleaning and checking at any branch, for pieces bought from CTF's Hong Kong eShop or branches, with the sales invoice. Not called a genuineness check, and CTF may change or cancel these services |
| Singapore | No public lookup for gold papers found. The T·MARK box is here too | Professional cleaning and complimentary quality inspection at Singapore branches, for pieces bought from CTF there, with the sales invoice. Not called a genuineness check |
| United States | No lookup found | Not confirmed. The US page repeats the Singapore wording, so ask CTF first |
| Macau, Taiwan and elsewhere | Excluded from the slip check. No other lookup found | No terms confirmed here. Ask the store first |
| Laos | None found | CTF said on 31 January 2024 that shops in Laos using its marks have no link to it |
- If your place shows no route, contact CTF before you travel or pay. This page lists contacts for Hong Kong and mainland China only. Elsewhere, use the contact details on CTF's own site for that place.
Who can verify Chow Tai Fook jewelry: store, lab or photo review?
If you are asking whether your Chow Tai Fook piece is real, each route answers a different part of that question, and none answers all of it. If you have the papers, start with the store. If the amount of gold justifies the cost, add a lab. If you have no store nearby, or you want the marks and papers reviewed first, use a photo review.
| Who | Can answer | Cannot answer | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chow Tai Fook store | In mainland China, staff examine the piece. CTF says a store visit is needed to judge the jewelry | Its method is not published. No published rule for pieces with no slip or bought second-hand | Stamp and slip in mainland China. Elsewhere, ask first |
| Lab | What the metal is, by the method used | Who made the piece | The piece and a fee |
| Vereev photo review | Whether the marks, workmanship, packaging and papers raise a problem | Metal purity. There is no metal reading | Photos, an account and tokens |
- Store: the after-sales notice of CTF Mall, the company's mainland China online mall, asks for the stamp (字印) and the slip, and covers CTF, Hearts On Fire, ENZO, MONOLOGUE and SOINLOVE pieces. Hong Kong and Singapore pages list cleaning and checking or quality inspection with the sales invoice, and do not call it a genuineness check. So do not assume the same service everywhere.
- Lab: NGTC, mainland China's national gem testing group, lists purity testing under GB 11887, plus X-ray fluorescence, fire assay and ICP methods. A consumer guide from Zhejiang consumer councils (Xinhua, 11 September 2026) says a real test certificate in mainland China carries the CMA mark and must match the tag and stamp.
- Cost and damage: gold-over-silver and thin foil items are hard to test without destroying them, and for such items a test can cost more than the item (China Consumer News, 6 February 2025).
How Vereev reviews Chow Tai Fook jewelry
For a Chow Tai Fook legit check, you photograph the piece in the Vereev app with a guided checklist. For jewelry it shows views such as the whole piece, the stamp or hallmark, the box and the packaging. The jewelry photo guide shows a sample of each. AI assists and human experts decide. The reviewer may ask for more photos.
The result is Authentic, Replica, or a statement that the photos cannot settle it. In that last case your tokens are refunded. Authentic and replica results get a digital E-Result with a certificate and a QR link that anyone can check at www.vereev-ai.com/verify. Vereev is independent and issues no Chow Tai Fook certificate.
Before you photograph a slip, receipt or diamond paper for a review, cover the sales number, the anti-counterfeit code, any serial code and your personal details. CTF asks customers to keep slip details from leaking, and Authentic and Replica results can be checked by anyone at www.vereev-ai.com/verify. For the same reason, do not post these numbers in a listing or a forum.
To order, search Chow Tai Fook in the app. If your version of the app does not list it yet, type its full name and continue. The app shows the cost before you confirm. If you already have an account and tokens, you can also order on the website at www.vereev-ai.com/authenticate.
What a photo review cannot prove on gold
A photo cannot show metal purity. Two dated reports show why that matters. Sing Tao Headline reported on 22 March 2024 that a 45.11 g 足金 bracelet was exposed only when it was cut. CCTV News, via Guangming Online on 23 October 2026, reported Liaoning police describing chains with pure gold outer layers and other metals inside.
A clean photo review means the marks, papers and finish raised no problem. It does not mean the metal was measured, and this is also true of an Authentic result. If the amount of gold justifies it, add a lab test. The guide on how to test gold at home explains what each test misses.
Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang, Chow Tai Seng, Luk Fook: same company?
Treat these as separate companies with similar names. A similar name is not evidence of counterfeiting. The table gives only what could be verified, and it does not compare stamps.
| Name | Chinese name | What is verified |
|---|---|---|
| Chow Tai Fook | 周大福 | First store in 1929 on Hongde Road, Guangzhou. Listed on the Hong Kong Main Board in December 2011, stock code 1929 |
| Chow Tai Seng | 周大生 | Says it was established in 1999, and listed in Shenzhen on 27 April 2017, code 002867 |
| Luk Fook | 六福 | Says its first store opened in North Point in 1991, and that it listed in Hong Kong in May 1997, code 0590 |
| Chow Sang Sang | 周生生 | Trades as 00116.HK and listed in Hong Kong in 1973, according to International Finance News via The Paper, 3 February 2026 |
| 周六福 | 周六福珠宝股份有限公司 | Runs its own site at zlf.cn. Nothing else was verified |
- Liquor: on 10 May 2021 CTF said it has no link to 周大福酒 or 贵州周大福酒业有限公司, and that it does not sell liquor.
- Tea and festive foods: in a statement dated 27 August 2020 CTF said it does not sell them, and has no link to online shops selling them under its brand.
- Business cards and companies: on 30 June 2017 CTF said business cards carrying its registered mark, and companies registered in Hong Kong using its name, had no link to it.
- Group brands: CTF names Hearts On Fire, ENZO and MONOLOGUE as brands of its group. CTF Mall also names SOINLOVE.
- Before you pay, read the full name on the shop sign, the receipt and the box. 周大福, 周大生, 周生生 and 周六福 differ by only one or two characters.
Unsure about your piece? Who to contact first
First, keep the listing, the payment record and all papers, and use the seller's or marketplace's return and buyer protection while it is still open. Contact CTF through its own channels below, not through a number printed on a listing or a paper. Then get a second opinion from a store, a lab or Vereev. Full steps are in the real-or-fake guide.
- Hong Kong: (852) 2526 8649, enquiry@chowtaifook.com.
- Mainland China: 400-166-9999, ctfwh@ctf.com.cn.
- If you were deceived: CTF's statement of 10 May 2024 tells you to report to the police. Its statements also say to confirm similar names through official channels.
Model-specific checks
Most-searched Chow Tai Fook models
Compare each piece with references for the same version, size, and period. These are the details a reviewer photographs and compares first.
足金 bangles and bracelets
A matching weight does not clear a bangle. Sing Tao Headline reported on 22 March 2024 that a 45.11 g 足金 bracelet from a second-hand platform matched on weight but held about 10 g of gold and 35 g of silver. Daily Business News quoted a police officer as saying the seller paid about RMB 20 for forged papers, and a Chow Tai Fook bag was added.
Check and photograph
- The mark on the piece, straight on and in focus
- The receipt or slip, with material, weight and purity, and with codes and personal details covered
- The clasp or join, if there is one
足金 chains and necklaces
CTF's statement of 6 June 2025 gives its account of a viral claim about two necklaces. CTF says they were not pieces it sold, since their appearance differed and their weight differed from its sale record.
Check and photograph
- The whole chain, laid flat
- The clasp and every stamp you can find
- The weight on the receipt, beside the piece
18K/750 jewelry
CTF's Hong Kong listings use names such as 18K/750 White Gold. China Consumer News reported on 6 February 2025 that a necklace sold online as CTF 18K tested below 750‰. CTF said the shop was not authorized. The report does not say whether the necklace was counterfeit.
Check and photograph
- The 750 or 18K mark
- The seller's shop name, for comparison with CTF's list
- The receipt line for material and purity
17916 series
CTF's mainland site describes 17916 as a product series made of 22K gold. So 17916 names a collection. CTF's page does not explain the digits, so check the separate purity mark on the piece.
Check and photograph
- The purity mark on the piece, apart from the series name
- The series name and material on the receipt
T·MARK diamonds
CTF says every T·MARK diamond holds a unique serial code. That applies to T·MARK diamonds, and CTF does not say it of all its diamonds.
Check and photograph
- Any T·MARK paper you were given, with the serial code covered
- Any GIA report that came with the stone
- The whole piece and its setting
Pt950 platinum
CTF's definition of Pt950 is 95% platinum plus 5% other metals. Hong Kong law (Cap. 362B) has PT 950 as one of its platinum standards.
Check and photograph
- The Pt mark, which CTF's platinum guide says jewelers and precious-metal buyers check inside the piece
- The material on the receipt
Warning signs
When Chow Tai Fook items need a closer look
Each sign is a reason to ask more questions or get an item-level review. None is a verdict on its own.
- An online shop or account that calls itself official but appears neither on CTF Mall's official online store list dated 11 September 2026 (mainland China) nor among the channels in CTF's Hong Kong statement of 10 May 2024.
- A price clearly below the Shanghai Gold Exchange price. The Zhejiang jewelry trade association advised care with these (China Consumer News, 6 February 2025). A discount alone is no test, because CTF's own sites show discounts.
- Purity words such as 千足金 or 万足金 in a mainland China ad. A Zhejiang consumer guide (Xinhua, 11 September 2026) says no 千足 advertising, and a Guangdong testing expert told Guangzhou Daily in 2016 that 万足金 is a marketing term.
- A seller's own test certificate, or a retest promise on a gold-over-silver or foil item. A Ningbo testing center director warned against certificates from dishonest sellers (Daily Business News, 22 March 2024). China Consumer News reported on 6 February 2025 that for gold-over-silver and thin foil items, seller promises of a retest, or of triple compensation if fake, mean little, because testing them is destructive and costs far more than the item.
- A certificate QR code that returns a no-such-certificate result. Sing Tao Headline reported one on 22 March 2024, with no brand named for that purchase.
- A set of papers offered as the main proof. Daily Business News reported on 22 March 2024 that a seller paid about RMB 20 for a forged delivery note, warranty slip, hang tag and invoice.
- A shop abroad using the CHOW TAI FOOK name that you cannot confirm through CTF's channels. On 31 January 2024 CTF said shops in Laos using its marks have no link to it.
- An offer to exchange something for gold in CTF's name. On 4 September 2018 CTF said that website claims about exchanging a virtual currency for its gold were false.
Research library
Chow Tai Fook tools and guides
Main guide
How to Tell if Chow Tai Fook Gold Is Real
Seven checks in order and what each one is worth, a before-you-pay list for second-hand pieces, and what to do if you already bought.
Open resourceCode and certificate guide
How to Check a Chow Tai Fook Guarantee Slip, Certificate or Serial Number
The official slip check, the T·MARK box, GIA Report Check and lab reports: what to enter, what each result proves, and what to do if it fails.
Open resourceMarks guide
Chow Tai Fook Gold Marks: What 足金, 999, 999.9, 750 and Pt950 Mean
What each mark means under Hong Kong law and in mainland China, and why a stamp is a claim, not proof.
Open resourceGold test guide
How to Test Gold at Home: What Torch, Weight and Acid Tests Miss
Reported cases from 2024 to 2026, what each test missed, and what to ask a lab to do.
Open resourcePhoto preparation
How to Photograph Jewelry for Authentication
See the views the Vereev app asks for, such as the whole piece, the stamp or hallmark, the box and the packaging.
Open resourceEvidence standard
Vereev Authentication Methodology
How Vereev weighs several signals, records limits, and avoids treating one mark or paper as proof.
Open resourceSubmission workflow
How Vereev Authentication Works
The path from choosing a brand and sending photos to receiving and checking an E-Result.
Open resourceCommon questions
Chow Tai Fook authentication FAQ
Can a Chow Tai Fook store check if my gold is real?
In mainland China, CTF says any specialty store gives a free genuineness re-check for jewelry bought in its stores, on showing the guarantee slip, though the method is not stated. Hong Kong and Singapore branches list cleaning and checking, or quality inspection, for pieces bought from CTF there with the sales invoice, and neither page calls this a genuineness check. No answer was found for a piece with no slip or a second-hand piece, so call first.
Where can I get Chow Tai Fook gold tested?
At a lab, which is the only route known to test the metal. In mainland China, NGTC lists purity testing, and a Zhejiang consumer guide (Xinhua, 11 September 2026) says a real test certificate there carries the CMA mark. Elsewhere, ask a local assay office or accredited lab, because this guide has no verified list.
Can Vereev tell me the purity of my Chow Tai Fook gold?
No. Vereev reviews photos of the marks, workmanship, packaging and papers. A photo cannot show metal purity, so use a lab for that.
How do I authenticate Chow Tai Fook if the app does not list it?
Search for the brand first. If no result appears, enter Chow Tai Fook in full and carry on with the guided photos. The app shows the cost before you confirm.
What photos do I need to authenticate Chow Tai Fook jewelry?
Vereev's jewelry guide shows the views to send, such as the whole piece, the stamp or hallmark, the box and the packaging. If a piece has several stamps, photograph each one, and cover any codes and personal details on papers. The reviewer may ask for more.
Is Chow Tai Seng the same company as Chow Tai Fook?
Treat them as separate companies. Chow Tai Seng (周大生) says it was established in 1999 and listed in Shenzhen under code 002867. Chow Tai Fook (周大福) is listed in Hong Kong under code 1929.
Is 周六福 part of 周大福?
Treat them as separate companies. 周六福珠宝股份有限公司 runs its own site at zlf.cn, and nothing else about it was verified here. A similar name is not evidence of a link or of counterfeiting, so if you want a Chow Tai Fook piece, buy through the channels Chow Tai Fook lists.
How do I recognize an official Chow Tai Fook account or shop?
For mainland China, compare the exact shop name with CTF Mall's official store list dated 11 September 2026. For Hong Kong, CTF's statement of 10 May 2024 lists www.chowtaifook.com, the Facebook page Chow Tai Fook Jewellery 周大福珠寶, Instagram chowtaifookjewellery and WeChat 港澳周大福. If a name is not listed, confirm it with CTF before you pay.
Sources and further reading
Evidence behind this guide
- CTF Mall: 商品核验 (product verification)Official brand source
- CTF Mall: delivery article with the re-check noteOfficial brand source
- CTF Mall: after-sales notice (image)Official brand source
- CTF Mall: official online stores, dated 11 September 2026 (image)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Our Services (Hong Kong)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Our Services (Singapore)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Our Services (US)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: T·MARK (Hong Kong)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: T·MARK (Singapore)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Official Statement (Hong Kong)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook mainland China: statement of 31 January 2024Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook mainland China: statement of 6 June 2025Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook mainland China: statement of 10 May 2021Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook mainland China: clarification dated 27 August 2020Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Contact Us (Hong Kong)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook mainland China: Contact usOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: About Chow Tai FookOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Heritage and HistoryOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group: home pageOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: How to Distinguish Gold PurityOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: platinum guideOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook eShop: 18K/750 White Gold product pageOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook eShop: 999 Gold charm product pageOfficial brand source
- Chow Tai Fook: Return Guarantee (Hong Kong)Official brand source
- Chow Tai Fook mainland China: 17916 seriesOfficial brand source
- Hong Kong e-Legislation: Cap. 362B, platinum standardsGovernment source
- NGTC: testing servicesTechnical reference
- Xinhua: China Consumer News guide from Zhejiang consumer councils (11 September 2026)Established secondary source
- China Consumer News on Sina (6 February 2025)Established secondary source
- Sing Tao Headline (22 March 2024)Established secondary source
- Daily Business News via Hangzhou.com.cn (22 March 2024)Established secondary source
- CCTV News via Guangming Online (23 October 2026)Established secondary source
- Guangzhou Daily via Ifeng (2016)Established secondary source
- International Finance News via The Paper (3 February 2026)Established secondary source
- Chow Tai Seng: Brand Story (that company's own site)Official brand source
- Luk Fook: Corporate Profile (that company's own site)Official brand source
- 周六福: home page (that company's own site)Official brand source
- Vereev: How to Photograph Jewelry for AuthenticationVereev original guidance
Related brand research
Authentication guides for related brands
Evidence standard
Codes and tags are context, not verdicts
Chow Tai Fook's Hong Kong guide tells buyers to buy from reputable merchants, to check fineness marks such as 足金, Au999 and Pt950, and to ask for an official receipt showing product name, weight, fineness and price. CTF Mall in mainland China offers 商品核验, and says it covers the slip only, with a store visit to judge the piece. Vereev is independent. It is not affiliated with or approved by Chow Tai Fook, and it issues no Chow Tai Fook certificate.
Vereev is an independent authentication service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Chow Tai Fook.
Read our research methodology