www.925-1000.com

Matchbox

The large stone is opal in matrix.

Dies are very expensive to make. First there is the hubbing die, which looks like the finished piece carved in a block of steel, it allows multiple dies to be made from it over time and the item is always the same one for the front, one for the back. The hub is hardened after it is perfect. This tak...

In die-stamped flatware forks the tines should all be level. in the die the tines are just a tapered rectangle of metal that is later punched to separate the tines. I would make little sense to have someone bend the outer tines as an additional step. I have never seen this in any of the never-used s...

To you and yours as well. Cheers!

Most likely cast, possibly some fine details added by chasing. Can't be certain without seeing the back under that material.

A pendant.

The mark looks OK. The style of the piece is typical of what they produced. All I can say from pictures. The M would only be on pieces made during Moore's tenure.

Don't forget: sand casters for the literal minded.

While it could have been the end-cap to several things, a letter-opener sounds like a good use for it. Any competent jeweler should be able to fit a new blade to it.

European dishwasher soap must be a lot milder than here in the US. The major brands here will, in a dozen washings, turn your silver an ugly mat grey that does not polish off without the use of an electric buffer. My silver is always hand-washed.

It is for breaking ice when making cocktails.

Most likely for heating water for whatever was needed.

I bet it works really well as a portable cheese grater.

Congrats Phil! Welcome aboard <Passes Phil his silver test kit and spam-killer button>

Best regards,

Jim

Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to one and all! Cheers

Here they are called "Wedding Cups". Supposedly an old Germanic tradition, the groom drinks from the larger cup, the bride, from the smaller one. I am unsure how well this is documented as historical fact. Their popularity ebbs and wanes.

These rings are still being made. I am asked to make 2-3 sets as wedding bands each year. The coins are typically from their birth-year (lucky are us older folks born before 1964 when the US switched to clad coinage). For younger folks the bands have to be plated (usually with platinum) to prevent g...

The T-lion and 925/1000 marks have been in use for more than a century. Those spoons were still in production in the 1970's.

Gold-filled does not mean it is yellow gold-filled. The case is obviously 14kt white gold bonded to a nickle base.