Picture locket Question: I have a second hand picture locket with an hallmark but i can't find where or who it was made by.
The stamping is as follows.
9 375 G WJJ then a shield lying on it's side with what looks like 3 little mounds.
Fob Watch gold hallmark year letters Question: I have a fob watch which I'm trying to date?
It's by Charles E Rose.
The marks inside are as follows:
The letter is lowercase and the tail of the y' curves from left to right and up slightly. The top 'forks ' of the y bend over to the left. We think its either 1898 or 1847 ?
Can you tell me which one or are we completely wrong?
Answer: Hi - Ann here, and many thanks for your query - and your patience.
The first thing you should realize is that the watch and the watch CASE could have been made by different people. As you say the watch is marked (on the face) Charles E Rose, while the case may have been made years before, in a different manufacturing base, in a different country by JR.
However tracking down Maker's Marks are the hardest part of any Hallmark as there is no central world registry of Maker's Marks.
The Anchor is the Assay office which you have rightfully identified as Birmingham while the Crown is the stamp signifying or guaranteeing quality - in this case 18ct gold.
So that leaves use with the SHAPE of the Stamp and the font used - in this case you say it is lowercase but your description of (italic) the letter could be misleading as I can't see it. Is it Old English for example?
The 1847 mark has cross lines through the body of the 'y' while the 1898 does not, plus the tail is as you described. The 1847 tail dips down at the end - so I would have to suggest the 1898 as being the correct date, as both stamps are similar being square with the corners cut off.
I don't know what you mean when you say 'shield is either oval or rectangle with corners rounded' as it can't be a Shield Shape nor can it be Oval?
If you don't own a Hallmarking book it is a great investment.
Hope you find this information useful.
In my usual capacity of answering questions, here is one worthy of note, not because of any major conclusion but because of the suggestion right at the end...
QUESTION..?
I have one gold cuff link which belonged to my late father. He would have been given it around 1950-1953. The markings on the back are as follows:- The first marking looks like a bird or a bell (not sure) followed by 9 375 (which I believe means 9 ct. then followed by "E". It also has the name PROUD (Probably the name of the Jewellery store).
Are you able to shed any light on the markings and possible year it was made. Many thanks
ANSWER..!
I don't know where you live or where your Father lived when he received the cufflinks in the first place, but the marks are certainly British (or colonies)...
You are correct in the 9 375 means 9ct (the 375 is the decimal code for 9ct gold).
The nearest date letter would have been 1954 for the date 'E' but the assay office would be an 'Anchor' mark for Birmingham.
PROUD is the name of an Australian Jewellery Store, but again I don't know if there is any connection. The Bell or Bird is a puzzle...
Hope this helps, and might I suggest you get your local Jeweler to convert it to a very attractive Pendant.
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