Professional Gemologist Appraiser

British Hallmarks are the best in the world.

Jewelers Loup 10 Times Magnification Loupes

Price: $15.00

Who says so - the rest of the World - although to be fair, other countries have great hallmarks too, it is just that they are NOT so often seen...

So what do we really need to know...?

A book on World Hallmarks for Gold or Silver items is a must for any serious collector or dealer, but they can be a little intimidating and time consuming.

• Is that mark a Cockerel or a Tree?
• Could it be made in Switzerland or Germany?
• Is that stamp a square shape or has the corners been cut off?

Thankfully for the rest of us, a small pocket book on UK Hallmarks is more than up to the task, coupled with that very useful plastic 10X eyeglass I keep on hinting for you to buy.

It will show you that the item has been tested and stamped, to prove it is - what it says it is (9ct or 18ct etc).

British Jewelry with a full UKHM (United Kingdom Hall Mark) is generally clearly stamped and readable after you clean it. Once you are aware of the marks, you will always feel just that little bit better when you buy that 'Could it be an Antique' item at the local market, or from the guy in the Pub that everyone talks about but nobody knows.

Buyer Beware....

There are basically four or five marks on British Jewelry.

1: The Maker's Mark (Usually some initials).
Not all that important for everyday items, unless you want to collect Jewelry from one maker.
Silver collectors may want to buy items from say, Bateman (I should be so lucky).

2: The second stamp is the Assay Office mark or 'Mark of Origin'.
It tells you where the item came from.
The most common is the LONDON Hallmark. A Leopard's Head. Sometimes this has a crown on the Leopard's Head (until circa 1821).
Modern items do NOT have a crown on the Leopard Stamp.

The other most common Assay Office marks are from Birmingham (an Anchor).

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