Japanese Silver Bracelet Hallmark?

[mattherring88]

I have been collecting silver for quite some time -- mostly Navajo, Zuni, and Mexican sterling jewelry. However, I have never had an Asian piece in my collection. I recently purchased a silver cuff bracelet to give as a Mother's Day gift, and I would like to have knowledgeable information to give with it! There is a hallmark that I believe to be Japanese, but I am not certain.

I would love to know:

Am I right about the origin?

What does it actually say? (English Translation)

And is this considered Jungin?

Thanks so much!

[davidross]

The mark looks very faint in the photo, but it does appear to read jungin .

For the sake of clarity, this is a silver purity mark applied by the maker or retailer, and not a hallmark.

Are there no other marks?

Regards,

DR

[mattherring88]

Unfortunately, there are no other marks other than the ones shown, and those two marks are quite worn down. I know very little about Asian silver, so I greatly appreciate your reply. Is the lack of a hallmark very uncommon in pieces such as this?

[davidross]

Hallmarking is predominantly a European institution. I would not want to categorically state that there is no such thing as an Asian hallmark, but no example of hallmarking in Asia springs to mind. The same could probably be said of American silver.

Please refer to the definition of "hallmark" in the glossary:

http://www.925-1000.com/silverglossary3.html

Regards
DR