Information from the Assay Offices of Great Britain GUARANTEEING THE QUALITY OF PRECIOUS METALS SINCE 1327 The purpose of this document is to give practical guidance in relation to Hallmarking matters. The UK...
BIRMINGHAM STERLING SILVER DATE LETTER CHART ...Not everyone can memorise the date letters that appear on silver, yet they are so very important in dating silver items. As far as I am aware this is the first...
LONDON STERLING SILVER DATE LETTER CHART ...Not everyone can memorise the date letters that appear on silver, yet they are so very important in dating silver items. As far as I am aware this is the first time...
Many people seem unaware that silver like gold,has different grades and qualities. Gold has an easy to read numerical hallmarking system: 9, 14, 18 and 22 carat. Silver now has a numerical hallmarking system...
Plastic collectables Most collectors of vintage plastics really know their subject. Labelling any and every old plastic item as “Bakelite ” and hoping for the best is a certain recipe for grief, angry buyers...
I have noticed that Ebay has a number of sellers who are knowingly selling reproduction art nouveau style enamelled jewellery as original. This will give some guidance on how to spot it.Styles Generally, the...
There are several ebay guides about old silver hallmarks, but little about hallmarks currently in use so I thought I'd fill the gap... UK hallmarks are assigned by the Assay Offices, of which there are...
Please be aware that almost all of these "vintage" pictures are modern fakes. Forget the aged frames, the old-looking (often partly-torn) labels on the back of such pictures - they're also fake. Another clue...
Not everything offered as 'solid silver' is so and not every seller realises that their item is worth less than they thought. Some sellers unfortunately aim to deceive and others honestly believe in the...
There are serious collectors of all things. Then those who have gotten to grips with their area of interest and finally those who are just begining. My rambling's are really aimed at the beginner! Collecting...