Just tidying up some blasts from the past (including some very ancient ones), largely for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.
There is a lot of misinformation on the net about the ‘925 FAS’ mark. Many sources say it stands for “Fused Alloy Silver”, implying that although the item meets an assay for 92.5% silver, it contains metals other than the usual copper for improved durability or finish. Some sources also point out (correctly) that it can also be for vintage jewellery from the short-lived “Fantastic Antique Silver Company” and that there is a Chinese registration for the ‘FAS’ mark (but the ‘A’ does not have a cross-bar).
This is obviously a relatively modern ring and I would think dates later than the US legal requirement for precious metal jewellery to have a unique maker mark or registered trademark for responsibility purposes (ie 1961 or later).
So, I would say the mark has to be for the maker, and I believe that would be FMC, Inc. of Brooklyn, New York, NY. They started business in 1976, filed for the ‘FAS’ trademark in 1991 (but with no indication of what the letters stand for), moved all production to China and Thailand c.1973 and operate today as “Designs by FMC, Inc.”
The company makes bracelets, pendants, earrings and finger-rings in precious metals, as well as costume jewellery, so their ‘FAS’ mark is also seen on items which don’t have the additional 925 mark. They largely sell through channels such as the QVC/Home Shopping Network, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Macy’s etc and also wholesale from their own website.
