✅ SOLVED Trying to work out a hallmark

[Frankyg]

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to work out what the hallmarks are on an old white metal wedding ring. Any ideas?

Thanks Frank

 

[creskol]

all I can make out is a sideways anchor .. Can you tell what the letters are, or other marks?

 

[grasshopper]

Birmingham Date Letter Chart - Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks

The last mark on your ring, the X looking one, seems to be either 1846 or 1897. More likely 1897 because the shield is square shaped. Based on what I have read, the anchor mark indicates it was manufactured in Birmingham, UK. Not sure what the BMS is, maybe it also has something to do with Birmingham.

Can you make out the first stamp?

 

[Frankyg]

Thanks for your help guys. I've managed to get a good image of the third mark but only a poor one of the first. It looks like an orb with a cross on top or perhaps a crown. I'd appreciate any views.

 

[CRUSADER]

These are not British hallmarks. The makers mark should be the clue, maybe US?

 

[Archeodeb]

BMS could be the makers mark for Baker Manchester Silver -- that "old white metal" could be silver. As for the anchor... it is from Birmingham as Grasshopper mentioned, but I have read that it is an assay mark, not a makers mark. That would mean that BMS (whoever that is) was the maker or sponsor who sent it to Birmingham, UK to have the silver content assayed. Can't make out the other two marks well enough to say anything about them.

 

[Archeodeb]

You may find this interesting... (from British Hallmarks in Tungsten Jewelry, Titanium Jewelry. Gold, Silver, and Platinum Jewelry. « Jewelry News)

"Jewelry. Gold, Silver, and Platinum Jewelry.
2 08 2008

Britain

Britain has a long and notable tradition of regulating the metals used in the making of jewelry. In fact, British hallmarks are so historical that they can greatly increase the value of the items they’re stamped onto.

Britain’s strict quality assurance requires that every article of gold, silver, and platinum with a quality mark be assayed by one of four government controlled offices. This means that the fineness mark on any precious metal article manufactured in Britain is verifiable. Although it’s no longer illegal to sell items without hallmarks in England, such as tungsten jewelry or titanium jewelry, which there is talk that things like titanium bracelets and tungsten carbide rings will eventually have marks they like the precious metals still can’t be officially described as gold, silver, platinum or any other metal without a hallmark.

British manufacturers are responsible for their own hallmarking. The jewelry doesn’t have to be stamped when the item is made. It must, however, be stamped before it’s offered for sale.

The British assay offices have the final word on whether precious metal objects meet the standard. If a British-made article fails to meet its hallmarked standard at the time of assay, it is crushed and returned to the manufacturer. Imported articles that fail the test are returned to the importer or manufacturer.

A complete British hallmark includes:


A sponsor’s mark, indicating the manufacturer, or sponsor, of the article by initials of the individual or firm responsible
A standard mark, certifying the precious metal content
The fineness stated as parts per thousand or as karatage
The location of the assay office responsible for certifying the article
The date letter, showing the year in which the article was hallmarked (This became voluntary as of January 1, 1999)
The British hallmark for gold includes all five stamps. The standard mark for gold is a crown."



I think the 5-sided mark may be the standard British mark for platinum (95%).

 

[jeff0172]

that second mark kinda looks like a russian city mark to me
Russian City Hallmarks • Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks

 

[cw0909]

Thanks for your help guys. I've managed to get a good image of the third mark but only a poor one of the first. It looks like an orb with a cross on top or perhaps a crown. I'd appreciate any views.

View attachment 730236
View attachment 730237
View attachment 730238

not sure what it is

 

[CRUSADER]

BMS could be the makers mark for Baker Manchester Silver -- that "old white metal" could be silver. As for the anchor... it is from Birmingham as Grasshopper mentioned, but I have read that it is an assay mark, not a makers mark. That would mean that BMS (whoever that is) was the maker or sponsor who sent it to Birmingham, UK to have the silver content assayed. Can't make out the other two marks well enough to say anything about them.

Like I said, this is not British, the anchor looks slightly wrong for the Birmingham assayers mark(although the stamp is the right shape) & so is the date letter stamp & the 'other' 'sudo-mark' is the really obiviously non-British.
http://www.925-1000.com/dlc_birmingham.html
With the date letter it not only needs to be the exact same script but the stamp shape has to be identical as well.

There is also no Lion silver standard mark.

This was either made to fool people (like gold plated copper rings) & is not silver or not of the right standard or it is foreign, which I have no experience in.

If a silversmith in Manchester had to take their silver to Birmingham to get it assayed, they would be nuts as Sheffield is the closest assayer by 3 times the distance.

 

[Silver Searcher]

A sideway Anchor is the Birmingham Hallmark for Gold, but this Anchor, does not look like the same type, for the Birmingham Assays Office.

SS