Could someone please explain the extensive French hallmarking as shown on this site at:
http://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
?
Thanks
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French Hallmarks
-
kerangoumar
- contributor
- Posts: 394
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:37 pm
- Location: Canada
French Hallmarks
Better late than never.
And I am only scratching the surface.
Gold:
1) Age
You won't find a lot of really old gold or silver because of the turmoil left by the French Revolution. A series of laws were passed, the last one on May 10, 1838.
2) Guarantee
French gold isn't gold if it is under 18k, and the guarantee marks indicate that purity. The marks are divided for objects that are large or small.
3) Small Items
French gold made for export only was permitted to be made in lower karats, if they were small.
4) Resale Items
Small resale items were struck with a mark indicating either above or below 50% gold.
5) Base Metals
Low karat items were overstruck to indicate above or below 50% gold.
(These are the marks on the right side.)
Silver
The same divisions were applied to silver which was permitted for internal sale at 950(better than Sterling, slightly less than Britannia standard) and 800(Continental standard) Ditto marks for export etc.
The series of marks on the left indicates the area of France in which the item was made. It also shows marks for items imported into France, depending on whether the items were large, medium or small.
It isn't that French marks are more complicated. They are just organized somewhat differently from the English hallmarks everyone knows.
.
And I am only scratching the surface.
Gold:
1) Age
You won't find a lot of really old gold or silver because of the turmoil left by the French Revolution. A series of laws were passed, the last one on May 10, 1838.
2) Guarantee
French gold isn't gold if it is under 18k, and the guarantee marks indicate that purity. The marks are divided for objects that are large or small.
3) Small Items
French gold made for export only was permitted to be made in lower karats, if they were small.
4) Resale Items
Small resale items were struck with a mark indicating either above or below 50% gold.
5) Base Metals
Low karat items were overstruck to indicate above or below 50% gold.
(These are the marks on the right side.)
Silver
The same divisions were applied to silver which was permitted for internal sale at 950(better than Sterling, slightly less than Britannia standard) and 800(Continental standard) Ditto marks for export etc.
The series of marks on the left indicates the area of France in which the item was made. It also shows marks for items imported into France, depending on whether the items were large, medium or small.
It isn't that French marks are more complicated. They are just organized somewhat differently from the English hallmarks everyone knows.
.