QuestionGreetings,I have 2 rings for which I cannot locate the silver marks. One is a silver and marquazite with profile of woman. Mark is number" 7"then a symbol like letter G with half a sun burst on the left side,then"925".
The other a is a tigers eye cameo of a knight, the mark is an arrow pointing left and the letter "T". There may have been another letter or 2 before the T.
Thanks for your help.
Regards, William.
AnswerHi, William.
Thanks for this question concerning the silver marks in your rings. Let me give an explanation of the marks used in the USA for precious metals. Sure, other countries will have slightly different markings but the numerals are fairly consistent with European and American markings.
Pure silver is called fine silver. Sterling silver is a alloy or recipe of metal. Copper is added to pure silver to make sterling silver, an alloy of silver which is still soft but quite a bit more suitable for jewelry than is the even softer pure silver.
This much copper is added: 7.5%. Another way to say this is if the alloy is considered 1000 parts, 75 parts are copper. The rest is fine silver. What amount is that? 92.5% or 925 parts. (The parts add up to 1000 parts in all.)
Does the 925 look familiar? This is a recognized and legal marking for sterling silver. Sterling may be marked with the word sterling or an abbreviation or with the numerical equivalent which is 925.
Looks to me like the 925 in the ring is a mark for sterling silver.
Gold is done the same way, with 14k being 585 which is actually a tad over 14k and 18k being 750.
I cannot identify metal from the second set of markings The mark is likely the makers mark.
William,I do hope this helps. Let me know with a follow-up if more info is needed.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas. March 10, 2008 7:18pm
