Sunday, March 1, 2009

Marks Found on Sterling Silver Jewelry

I love sterling silver jewelry. Even though it has a tendency to tarnish over time, I even enjoy the task of polishing it. It has an earthy feel which appeals to the Taurus in me.

Sterling silver jewelry is easily recognizable once you start handling it, so it becomes relatively easy to identify a piece as sterling even if it is not marked, which sometimes occurs. It develops a characteristic patina as it ages. Fortunately, much silver jewelry is marked, so the task at identification becomes easier for you.

A lot of sterling silver is marked simply 925 - this is the most common marked used on silver jewelry made in the USA. The mark can be anywhere on the piece and the lettering can be any size. I've seen teeny tiny 925 marks on the post of an earring, so be sure to look everywhere - on the back of the piece, on the clasp, inside the bale of a necklace etc.

The 925 mark can be seen alone or in combination with other words, such as the name of the maker, or area of the world that it came from. Japan makes a form of damascene with sterling silver which has the words Amita sterling or Amita silver as a marking. Other designers use the word sterling along with their name, such as Beau Sterling (or Beauster) and Bond Boyd Sterling.


Other pieces are marked with the word sterling or even abbreviated to the shortened firm ster. Once again, this mark can be anywhere on a piece. Sometimes this form of hallmark is very, very faint. I've had pieces which had a gold vermeil coating on top of the silver that looked like gold, but upon polishing the piece have found the faintest letters saying sterling near a clasp. I once saw a brooch that had the word sterling stamped over several petals on a flower pin, so each petal only got a few of the letters.

Mexico sterling silver pieces are marked in many ways. Some are marked 980, of 950. Some will have the words Taxco silver, and older ones may be marked silver. Many Mexican silversmiths mark the piece with their initials. These initials can increase the value of the piece.


Rancho Alegas photo courtesy of ebay seller vintage-memories

Some Mexican silver made between 1947 and 1979 has an eagle stamp on the back of the piece. And after 1979 silversmiths starting marking the pieces with two letters and a number to identify it. One notable designer of Mexican silver is William Spratling - an American working in Taxco Mexico in the 1930s. His pieces are signed William Spratling.


Sterling silver jewelry from Scandanavia is sometimes marked Sterling, followed by the name of the country, and 826, 830s or 925s, i.e. Sterling Denmark 830s. Many of the older pieces have just the mark of the silversmith. Some notable sterling silver manufacturers from Scandanavia are David Anderson and Georg Jensen. Scandanavian silver is highly sought after and very collectible.

Finally, no article on sterling silver jewelry would be complete without discussing Siam and Thailand sterling silver. Up to 1939, pieces from this area were marked Siam or Siam Sterling. In 1939, the country changed its name to Thailand, and pieces will have markings such as Made in Thailand, Thailand 925, Thailand sterling silver, etc. Some of the jewelry from these countries is called Nielloware and is characterized by a sterling silver settling with black enamel designs. This type of silver is very collectible.


A modern designer who uses Thailand silver is Judith Ripka. Many of her high end pieces are marked with the word Thailand - Judith Ripka 925.


There are thousands of markings which find their way onto a piece of sterling silver jewelry - far too many for me to include in this article. One helpful website that I have found for sterling silver markings is called Mystery Marks. The site discusses various sterling silver marks in great detail and has pictures of many of them.

Be sure to have a look at my website Vintage Jewelry Lane. I have a large variety of sterling silver jewelry, as well as Siam Sterling Nielloware for sale - all at very reasonable prices.

14 comments:

  1. Great post. I especially found it useful where you stated ...

    what you can to be my friend?
    please add my link into your blogroll

    best regards
    katarashop

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Great post!!
    The vintage Jewelery is really a unique one.
    I think it gives a feeling of being Royal.The all above are really great..

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is first time for me that i saw silver in gold color.
    silver

    jewelry exporters

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent post..

    all are really good. we got a good things..

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have an old thimble that I thought was sterling. However, the mark inside appears to say Friscilla. There is also a symbol I cannot identify. Any ideas? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am not familiar with the maker Fiscilla and google gave no info, so I can't help you.

      Carol

      Delete
    2. You can go to www.925-1000.com. It is the online encyclopedia of silver markings.

      Delete
    3. Just because it does not say sterling, it does not mean it is not. English is just one language jewelry and other things were marked with

      Delete
  6. I'm a huge fan of Sterling Silver and I've always loved Charm pendants. your presentation is very nice.

    Sterling Silver Jewelry

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sterling silver jewellery is the next best investment for the common man after gold. The affordability and designs make the jewellery good investment. The versatility of this metal and its ability to last like a heirloom, makes the metal an all time favourite. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Does anyone know what the jewelry mark. $. On sterling silver means It has. $. 925. I have never seen the dollar sign on a piece of sterling silver earring hoops. Please reply to gfischer@columbus.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sterling silver jewelry is compliments women’s look the most. It can be used by everyone from college going ladies to professionals ones. You may have seen many girls have a hobby to make a collection of the ornaments. Sterling silver jeweler is not that much expensive but it has its own class and status.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Please help? I have silver filigree clutch purse with intricate floral birds and fish designs. Stamp looks Asian or Kk? Can you help identify?
    Sincerely, DK

    ReplyDelete
  11. Please help? I have silver filigree clutch purse with intricate floral birds and fish designs. Stamp looks Asian or Kk? Can you help identify?
    Sincerely, DK

    ReplyDelete