Could you please tell me the manufacturer, date and value, please. If an item has not been stamped or marked with these 3 markings then it has not been properly hallmarked. The hidden agenda was I know collectors like a bit of age if wanting to pass on! Black, Starr & Frost on the Tongue of a Bracelet Clasp. In most cases this stamp is struck by the manufacturer and is therefore not a hallmark in the strictest sense, although the mark needs to be registered at the assay office. Boucher, a USA firm, patented many jewelry designs from the 1930s through the 1960s and their patent stamps are usually depicted as a sequence of numbers. The inclusion of initial stamps alongside the hallmarks means that most makers can also be identified. Makers Mark. Silver jewelry in Mexico is usually stamped with MEX925. The markings inside the ring are A P inside a circle and a crown inside a square. If a precious metal item weighs less than a certain amount it is not compulsory to apply a hallmark. Examine thoroughly, going over the whole piece more than once, turning it to examine every nook and cranny. Depending upon the font used for the series of date letters, the letter i, j or l is usually omitted to avoid any possible confusion between them. The presence or absence of this outline can provide information about the fineness, date stamped, weight, and assay office. It should be noted that while the date letter has routinely been taken to represent a single year, it was not until 1975 that all date letters were changed on January 1. The shield shape varies, and a minimum of two, and maximum of five initialsmust be included. Hallmarks are traditionally a British certifying system and are found on flatware and silverware, and each hallmarkindicates: 1. However, the only way to to confirm this is to get your ring professionally tested. However, the date letter system allows antique plate to be dated more accurately than almost all other antiques. Tally Marksare sometimes found on USA and British items to indicate the journeyman who actually created the piece. At its most basic, we can usually easily identify the type of jewelry i.e. Your email address will not be published. There may be some variations in backgrounds during the late 19th century, especially on watch cases. Today the Birmingham assay office is the largest assay office in the world and one can find many items that have been struck with this town mark.