Hallmark help please. Hard to see. Ring.

[mrfixitt]

Hi there, I found this ring metal detecting hence the dirty fingernail in the photo. =) I've searched the pictures on this site over and over with no luck. I don't know how ring hallmarks work. The design looks a little bit like the 1901 Chester date letter. But it also looks very much like a V. Also in the deep part of the stamp it looks like there maybe be something similar to an = sign. Very hard to see. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/hallmark_000.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/hallmark1_000.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/hallmark2_000.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/hallmark3_001.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/ring_000.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/925.JPG

[mrfixitt]

Hi, I'm posting a couple of new pictures. I think the line making the mark appear to be an A in the previous photos is an illusion. Just a crease in the silver. I know I'm grasping at straws here but I'm hoping to jog someones memory of something they saw. I ran across an Eagle 3 mark. Take a look at my hallmark. It's a similar shape to the Eagle 3. Was there another mark used by this maker? Perhaps an Eagle 4?


http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/hallmark6.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/hallmark7.JPG
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=sv1/21/eagle_3.JPG

Thanks for looking, Bob!

First of all I'd like to thank the moderator who moved my listing to Mexican Silvermarks. You pointed me in the right direction. I'd also like to thank those of you who knew this was an eagle 4 but didn't say anything. I learned a lot investigating this piece. One thing I learned is this must be a rare piece from an unknown maker and or city because I can find no listing of the eagle 4 when the eagle 1 2 3 5 and many more are known. I learned it was probably made between 1955 and the early 70's. I read in one article that said the eagle was used on exported items. I learned that the eagle # can indicate either the city or the maker. That's the story I'm running with until proven otherwise. Thanks all for looking!

[mrfixitt]

Hi it's me again. I seem to be talking to myself. I have an observational question. I saw a piece of jewelry with the eagle 4 on it and the city Guadalajara. Now on this list on Mexican eagle marks I've been using as a reference it shows the "eagle 3" as a generic mark for Taxco. If you scroll down the list a bit more it also says the "eagle 3" is a generic mark for Guadalajara. Now here's my question.

Is the "eagle 3" Guadalajara a misprint? Is that supposed to say eagle 4? Notice it's placement on the list. Directly between the list of 3's and the 5. Right where a 4 would go. I'm hoping one of you has a book on eagle marks and can clear this up for me. Thanks for your help, Bob!

Here's the link: http://www.modernsilver.com/SFITEMS.html

[admin]

I think it is a typo, 4 is most likely Guadalajara.
You have to keep in mind that most of the information, published and anecdotal, on Mexican marks is based on conjecture and reverse engineering from observed marks.
Regards, Tom

[EAK04605]

There are currently 16 artists attributed to the eagle 4 mark but that is not to say there were not more as borrowing of the eagle marks is not uncommon. I highly recommend Billie Hougart's book "The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks. Try to get the second edition as that is MUCH more complete.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth