French Platinum Marks

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SPECIAL HALLMARKS FOR PLATINUM.

Because of the increasing price of platinum, new alloys of gold, called "white gold" and "palladium gold," have lately come into use as a substitute for platinum in the manufacture of jewelry. To avoid the confusion of these alloys with pure-platinum work, three new stamps, or hallmarks, have been created by a recent decree in France for use in marking jewelry that is composed entirely or in part of platinum. One of the new hallmarks, a dog's head, is used to stamp work of home manufacture which is to be sold in the country; another, the head of a young girl, denotes work of home manufacture intended for exportation; and a mask designates imported goods. In combinations of platinum and white gold, the proper stamps must be used to indicate the various metals. Weights are designated, as in the case of gold hallmarks, by the position of the stamp; for instance, the dog's head with the snout turned to the edge indicates units, and turned in the opposite direction indicates tens.



Source: Popular Mechanics Magazine - 1914

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Platinum Marks

The control of platinum articles was originally attested by the marks for gold plate. There did not appear to be any danger in this procedure, the very different colours of the metals being considered sufficient security against error.

The 'Dog's Head', 'Maiden's Head', and 'Mask'
Owing to the constant increase in the value of platinum, however, new gold alloys were introduced in the manufacture of jewellery which were called 'white gold' or 'palladium gold', the colour of which approximates to that of platinum. It therefore became a matter of urgency that special marks should be allotted to platinum, and this was the reason for the decree of December 5, 1912. This decree created three marks:-

1. The 'Dog's Head' for marking pieces made in France for home consumption.

2. The 'Maiden's Head' for pieces for export.

3. The 'Mask' for the importation of pieces made in the French Colonies, or foreign countries entitled to the benefit of a customs convention tariff. In the event of re-exportation the dues are refunded.

The 'Mask' in a Rectangle

The decree of February 6, 1926, adopted still a further mark for platinum pieces coming from countries with which there is no customs convention, or from 'monts-de-piété' or public sales where proof of French origin, from the marks, is lacking. This new mark has the 'Mask' emblem, but differs from the mark for articles coming in under a customs convention in that it is enclosed in a rectangle.

Mixed Mark: 'Eagle's Head', and 'Boar's Head' in an Oval

Articles in which there are both gold and platinum parts bear both gold and platinum marks. Articles of gold and silver in which the weight of the accessory metal exceeds 3 per cent. of the total weight of alloy bear a mixed mark. The two emblems of the Paris restricted warranty are placed side by side and enclosed in an oval (gold: 'Eagle's Head' ; silver: 'Boar's Head').

Source: A Guide to Old French Plate - Louis Carré

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