What does that letter mean, and why is it in a fancy font? That stamp is a date letter, the British version of a date mark.ĭate letters can be a little confusing, so bear with us. ![]() If you're into British antique silver jewelry, you've probably noticed an alphabet letter imprint. If you find a four-digit number like 1901 on your silver, you'll know instantly when it was made. There are few accessories as timeless as vintage silver, but how can you spot a classic? Peek around for a date mark, which silversmiths stamp on genuine silver jewelry. Swedish silver jewelry includes the town and date, while Norwegian and Danish silversmiths often include their signature stamp instead.Įuropean (French, German, Austrian, Italian, etc.) - Are you noticing a pattern here? Like those mentioned above, European silversmiths use the purity mark to indicate the silver content while also adding a unique signature mark, date letter, or town mark. Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, etc.) - Each country is a little different, but all Scandinavian silver has a purity mark. That's why they have the standard quality mark, an origin mark (town and country), maker's mark, and a date letter - that's a lot of marks to decode! Mexican-made silver jewelry might also have hallmarks for the city name or region.īritish (Scottish, Irish, English) - Did you know that British silver hallmarks date back over 700 years to medieval times? Because they are antiques, the industry considers British jewelry hallmarks the most complex. Mexican - In addition to the purity mark, Mexican silver jewelry often includes an obvious but helpful "Mexico" or "Made in Mexico" ("Hecho En Mexico" in Spanish) stamp. Sometimes silver jewelry made in the USA will also include the maker's mark (more on that one shortly). Here's a list of popular hallmarks by country:Īmerican - Perhaps the simplest of the silvers, American-made silver jewelry generally only carries the purity mark. Silver origin marksĬurious to know if your silver jewelry is British or American? Silversmiths use an array of symbols to tell us about the jewelry's origin. In other words, your silver family heirloom might have the number "1000" stamped onto it, or only the phrase "fine silver" but, they both mean the same thing. Quick footnote: the hallmark names and numbers are interchangeable. If you stumble on grandma's old silver brooch with this silver hallmark, hold onto it! Sterling Silver, 92.5%, 925 - Sterling silver is the industry standard for a good reason, boasting beauty and affordability.īritannia silver, 95.8%, 958 - Britannia silver is the middle ground in quality between Sterling and fine silver.įine silver, 100%, 1000 - This is the highest quality and rarest silver you can buy. Here's a list of the most common silver purity marks: The purity mark, also known as a "standard mark," tells the buyer how much pure silver is in the jewelry. While you may own a diverse collection of silver jewelry, each piece will have a common feature: a purity hallmark. Below, we'll share popular stamps and teach you how to identify silver hallmarks. If you've ever wondered whether or not your unique silver watch is a genuine antique rather than a dusty old knock-off, you'll want to learn how to read silver hallmarks.įortunately, reading silver hallmarks is easy when you know what to look for. The short answer is, the symbols on silver mean a lot of different things. What do silver hallmarks mean? What Do The Symbols Mean On Silver? ![]() ![]() What's the other 7.5%? If you guessed an alloy of mixed metals like copper, zinc, and palladium, you're correct!īut let's ditch the chemistry lesson for now and get back to the reason you're here. The oh-so-popular Sterling silver, for example, contains 92.5% silver. Aside from 100% pure silver, most silver jewelry is mixed with a base metal called an alloy.Īdding an alloy changes the silver's properties like hardness, color, and flexibility. ![]() Quality is first and foremost on our list when purchasing any piece of jewelry. One of the essential roles a hallmark plays is telling the wearer about the jewelry's quality. Ready to decode silver jewelry stamps? Let's dive right in! But first: what's the purpose of silver hallmarks? What Are Jewelry Hallmarks?Īll precious jewelry metals, including silver and gold, have tiny hallmark imprints. Some marks indicate origin, while others represent purity. Jewelry makers use silver hallmarks to tell us essential info about your jewelry. Have you ever wondered why there's a number stamped on the inside of your favorite shiny silver ring? Or maybe you've noticed an odd-looking symbol on the back of your silver lucky charm bracelet? In the jewelry world, these numbers and symbols are called hallmarks.
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