Vintage Jewelry Stamped

When it comes to purchasing vintage jewelry, knowing about these markings can make all the difference in determining what you’re getting. They can help you identify a piece’s purity, origin & brand – a huge advantage for collectors & sellers alike. In order to understand these symbols, you must have a basic knowledge of history, design attributes & materials used in each era.

Whether you’re looking for bracelets, earrings, necklaces or brooches, it can be hard to determine when something is truly vintage without seeing it in person. But there are a few things to keep an eye out for when shopping online to avoid purchasing faux or imitation pieces.

First off, if the seller doesn’t have multiple pictures of the piece from different angles or only shows one, this is a red flag that the jewelry they’re selling might not be authentic. A real vintage dealer will always have a wide range of photos that showcase the vintage jewellery from various angles, gemstones, the stampings and other details.

Also, keep an eye out for the type of clasps on a piece. The styles of clasps that were popular in each era can indicate how old a piece is. For instance, ring clasps are usually found on older necklaces and bracelets, while the more common lobster clasp wasn’t widely used until the 70s.

Is Vintage Jewelry Stamped?

Another thing to look for is if the back of a piece is smooth or rough. Rough backs are typical of newer jewelry, while older pieces were crafted with smooth backings. If the back of a piece is rough, it’s likely not a true vintage piece.

While it may seem obvious, it’s important to take into consideration the style of a piece and whether or not it would have been worn in that particular era. Generally speaking, earlier pieces were more extravagant with brighter colors and larger styles than the styles of today.

Lastly, be sure to consider the age of the piece and any information about the metal purity, such as the date letter stamp, which was a requirement for British jewelry until 1999, or the silver hallmarks like the lion and Britannia marks. Additionally, for European jewelry, the assay office symbol (lion and boar’s head for gold; eagle’s head for silver) can provide valuable clues to the era.

You can also check for a maker’s mark, export marks and pictorial markings to help you decipher older pieces. For example, Ciner jewelry typically has the word “CRAFT” stamped on it. This was the company’s trademark in the 1940s & 1950s. It later changed to a copyright symbol. It’s important to note that these markings aren’t foolproof, so don’t be afraid to ask a dealer for additional details and research your finds on your own as well! This is the best way to guarantee that you’re buying a genuine, quality piece of jewelry.