Let’s face it, we all love fine antique jewellery and aside from platinum, most vintage or antique jewellery pieces are made of gold, silver or both. Of course, the entire range of precious stones are also found in antique jewellery, yet gold and silver were the main metals used in the making of fine antiques.
Here are some important aspects of antique gold and silver jewellery that you should be aware of.
Gold Hallmarks
As you would expect, gold is stamped, or hallmarked, to verify its purity. This alluring yellow metal is produced with varying levels of purity, which are as follows:
- 24 karat = a gold stamp of 999 (99.9% pure gold)
- 22 karat = a gold stamp of 916 (91.6% pure gold)
- 18 karat = a gold stamp of 750 (75% pure gold)
- 14 karat = a gold stamp of 585 (58.5% pure gold)
- 9 karat = a gold stamp of 375 (37.5% pure gold)
Generally speaking, 9-18 karat is used for jewellery making, as pure gold is too soft to be practical with jewellery.
Maker’s Mark
This can be found on many antique jewellery pieces; much like the painter leaves his signature on the corner of a painting, the jewellery maker will leave a mark of some sort. It might be their initials, or simply a symbol, something to signify who made the piece. There would likely be a maker’s mark on antique gold bracelets for sale at a reputable dealer. Most likely that dealer now has an online store to make searching for authentic pieces easier. As you would expect, with so many jewellery makers through the ages, there are countless marks to signify the maker. If you have an antique jewellery item and you would like to learn about its history, take it to an antique dealer and ask them to appraise the piece.
Silver Hallmarks
The purity of silver is hallmarked with the following stamps:
- 999 = 99.9 % pure silver
- 958 = 95.8% pure silver
- 925 = 92.5% pure silver (most jewellery in 925)
- 800 = 80% pure silver
Sterling silver is typically 925, which is the most suitable for jewellery and it will not tarnish, yet this was not the case back in the 18th and 19th centuries, when purer silver was used in the making of fine jewellery.
If you are a lover of antique jewellery, make a connection with a leading antique dealer who specialises in jewellery and browse their extensive catalogue of genuine antiques. Each item has hi-res images and a detailed description would be on their website and should you wish to chat with the dealer, most have a live chat feature, when you can ask questions and possibly set up a private viewing appointment.
Many small investors include antique jewellery in their portfolio and with some shrewd acquisitions, you can see a healthy return in the long term, should you ever wish to sell the piece.