Swedish or South American 980 silver mark

[Poutie4]

Hello I have this locket which I am told is jasper ?? but the marks on the reverse say 980 KOL/KDL any ideas date, counrty, desgner please.
Would be very grateful for help on this lovely old piece which I really like to wear and can never tell anyone about it as I purchased at general market
Many thanks

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Poutie4/SilverMarks/photo#5238757949011619442
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Poutie4/SilverMarks/photo#5238757954919074690

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Moved your post to the Mexican Forum as it's the only country I can think of that used 980/1000 silver.

Trev.

[Poutie4]

Hi Trev

Do we know that Sweden didn't do 980 silver? Only going by the fact on hunting KDL/KOL found a Swedish manufacturer KOL designs but little else in the way of informaton
Many thanks

[admin]

Hi,
We do know that Sweden used a standardized system of national hallmarking that your piece does not adhere to. Mexico, on the other hand, has always been fairly loose in its marking systems, lax in enforcement and traditionally fond of the 980 standard. Given that there have been hundreds of thousands of silversmiths worldwide in the last hundred years and only 26 letters in the alphabet, searching for the origins of a piece by its initials alone is not reliable. I also suspect your piece is Mexican and of recent vintage, first initial is probably X.
Regards, Tom