Getting unmarked items marked

[juliany]

I have several items in my collection that are not hallmarked. for example a set of 4 beer mugs made in India.

As i am registered with the London assey office, i could send them to get them marked. nature they would have today's date stamp when the items were make earlier.

what would be the pro's and con's of doing this?

Julian

[dognose]

Hi Julian,

I have to ask the question as why you want to do such a thing? If the items have age to them, then a modern hallmark would be a defacement of them.

If you sent your Indian beer mugs to the London office and they failed the assay (many of the older Indian pieces were made out of Indian coins, which were just below sterling), the assay office will take a hammer to the pieces before returning them to you, and I believe you will still be liable for the cost of assay.

If you need assurance that your items are indeed up to a certain standard, then there are private assaying firms that will provide you with a written report to accompany the items.

As a side-note, it would be good to record your mark here. Are you a silversmith?

Trev.

[juliany]

Trev,

I was thinking of the law that anything over 7 grams needs to be hallmarked to be sold as silver.

Yes they would crush them if they were below 800 , What i would do is to say 925 but mark as 800 if below.

No i am knot a silversmith, but a part time jeweller

Julian

[dognose]

Hi Julian,

In that case they will struck with a mark that I've never seen in the flesh:



Trev.

[juliany]

800 is not sidle advertised of recognised, nut is is still available on request if you see the dealers notice

http://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/media/39 ... sheet%20(1).pdf

Julian

[juliany]

sorry link did no work

http://phantazephoto.com/dealer.png

J

[dognose]

Hi Julian,

Thanks for the link to the updated marks. I fear my information was well past it's 'sell by date'!

Trev.