Gear artefacts are the standard material carriers for gear parameter values, used to transfer the reproduced values from the national gear measurement standard to various gear measuring instruments. This ensures the accuracy and consistency of gear measurements and the quality of gear products. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the origin and development of gear artefacts, discussing in detail their types, structures, characteristics, measurement techniques and devices, international comparisons, and future development prospects. Over a development history of more than ninety years, gear artefacts have evolved to include diverse types, extended scales, and simplified complexities. As “ tangible” material measures, they remain irreplaceable. However, with the advancement of “intangible” virtual simulation measurement technology, the reliance on “ tangible” material artefacts is expected to decrease, and “intangible” technology may become a new mode of quantity value transmission in the future.