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strange hallmark

UserPost

11:02 pm
March 28, 2009


brewer

Guest

Hi, I recently purchased an antique gold band ring, and I have searched everywhere trying to find out about the hallmark/stamp on the inside of the band. The initials are J.W. which I am assuming are the initials of the maker, but I am not sure of the second box, 18.oo with a line under the zeros(almost like currency). I had the ring acid tested and it is 18k but the hallmark was unfamiliar to me and everyone else I have asked. I really hope you can help end this mystery. I tried to attached a pic but couldn't, I can email a pic.

Thanks.

7:09 pm
April 6, 2009


Guest

posts

G'day Brewer and many thanks for your comment.

I think I have seen this hallmark when you contacted us at the Jewelry Appraisal Center.

The oo mark you mentioned looked like the bottom part of the CROWN hallmark – please check again. Is it a Crown?

Dave

11:32 am
April 11, 2009


brewer

Guest

Hi Dave,

I am really not sure……..I guess it could be a crown. Would love to send ya a pic and see what you think. (I don't have a url for the pic b/c its just on my hard drive, but I do have a close up magnified shot of the hallmark)

After a closer look at my ring with my camcorder in zoom mode. I saw the markings much clearer.

The first deep set box has the initials J.W. as I have said before, but the second area is also deeply set but it is not a box, the ends are cut off and come to a point. Appears more like arrows facing out on each side, and it reads……18 B oo….the B is smaller than the 18 about half the size, and there is a dot above and in the middle of the zeros and a line, or 3 long dots under the zeros.

Thanks.

10:59 pm
April 20, 2009


Guest

posts

G'day Brewer and many thanks for your photos. I will try to get them uploaded so everyone can see the hallmark.

But I really need to know something…

Where do you live?

UK – States – Europe – Where?

Because that will have the effect of shortening our search area.

Also where did you get the ring? If it was passed down – who from? Where did they get the item and so on. The more info you provide (assuming you know any) the better.

I showed the images to Ann and she is a whiz at UK Hallmarks and she thinks it is a fake – but needs to know more.

That doesn't mean the ring is not 18ct gold (you had it tested right?) but that the stamp just doesn't look right for UK Hallmarks.

Get back to use with info ASAP.

Dave

5:46 pm
April 24, 2009


brewer

Guest

Hi Dave,

Sorry it took a while to respond, but my internet must buggy b/c your site didn't want to load.

I live in the US and purchased the ring off Ebay from a seller located in Pennsylvania (USA). The ring is a little different from the normal thin band I used to wear. It is 6mm wide and approx. 3mm thick. and the weight is 12.1 grams. I did have it acid tested and it is 18k. I did ask the ebay seller about the hallmark and she said…. "she did not know the maker and said it was antique at least 100 years old and they just do not make them like that any longer". Sorry that is not much to go on, I did try emailing her again, hopefully she will have more info to offer.

I don't know where this hallmark is from … but I figured I would just start asking people and maybe someone would recognize it.

I do hope my ring is not a fake! Why would someone fake a hallmark?

Thanks for your time Dave.