North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 80. Trademarks, Brands, Etc. § 80-40. Marking gold articles regulated

It shall be unlawful to make for sale, or sell, or offer to sell or dispose of, or have in possession with intent to sell or dispose of, any article of merchandise made in whole or in part of gold or any alloy of gold, and having stamped, branded, engraved or imprinted thereon, or upon any tag, card or label attached thereto, or upon any box, package, cover or wrapper in which the article is enclosed, any mark indicating or designed to indicate that the gold, or alloy of gold, therein is of a greater degree of fineness than its actual fineness, unless the actual fineness, in the case of flatware and watchcases, is not less by more than three one-thousandths parts, and in the case of all other articles is not less by more than one-half karat than the fineness indicated, according to the standards and subject to the qualifications hereinafter set forth.

In any test for ascertaining the fineness of gold or alloy in the articles, according to the required standards, the part of the gold or alloy taken for the test, analysis or assay shall be a part not containing or having attached thereto any solder or alloy of inferior fineness used for brazing or uniting the parts of the articles. In addition to the foregoing tests and standards, the actual fineness of the entire quantity of gold and of its alloys contained in any article mentioned in this section (except watchcases), including all solder or alloy of inferior metal used for brazing or uniting the parts (all such gold, alloys, and solder being assayed as one piece), shall not be less by more than one karat than the fineness indicated by the mark used as above indicated. Violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.