Diamond Ring - Chester Mark

[bernard_ric]

We bought a ring which we were told was dated 1913 and Hallmarked in Chester.

Looking up Chester Marks in your guide we are now confused somewhat. The Date letter (P)appears to be right for 1915 but the shape of the cartouche is not.

I apologise for poor clarity I will try again if required.

We would also like any information available on the maker. The mark as shown is not clear in the final elements, We wonder though, having looked at marks on this site's guide, whether they are simply the letters Ld for limited?





Any info gratefully received. Note our interest is purely for our own satisfaction.
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[dognose]

Hi Bernard,

Welcome to the Forum.
There was a Birmingham manufacturer Samuel Usher who used the Chester office in the late 1800's, if he was still in business by 1915, I do not know, I offer it only as a possibility.
Many Birmingham makers used the Chester Office, as Birmingham had aquired a reputation of producing goods for the cheaper end of the market.
The marks look good for Chester 1915 to me, unfortunatley I have no details to hand at the moment of the cartouches used for the gold marks at Chester but they almost certainly would have had a different outline to that of the silver one.

Regards Trev.
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[bernard_ric]

Thanks Trev. Do you agree that the final part of the makers mark could be simply the Ld abbreviation for Limited?

I have now managed to track down an item of Chester marked gold that has the same cartouche as on the ring shown. I had not realised until now that the cartouche shape was different between the metals for a given year.
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[dognose]

Yes, it could well be Ltd. It would be interesting to see what others think.

Trev.
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[bernard_ric]

Just a small update:

I have found entries for 'Samuel Usher' in Kelly's directories up to 1921 but not beyond.

Kellys Directory of Birmingham & Suburbs (1908)

Usher Samuel Ltd. goldsmiths, 123 Vyse st ... ... 48 Malvern rd. Handswth " Usher ; " T N 235 Jewellers - Usher ... ... r ; " T N 235 Jewellers - Usher &


Kellys Directory of Birmingham & Suburbs (1921)

Directory - Classified by trade -

Usher Samuel Limited, 123 Vyse street i V ...

Many thanks for the pointer. I will add anything I find out as now I feel I must visit Birmingham City Library. If I can find a clearer example of the mark I will post it.
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[larkfield]

Their appears to be 4 marks after the date mark (total 6 + maker). Is this correct as it seems a large number. In addition to makers mark, I would expect to find town mark, 2 gold marks, and date letter. Can you describe these other marks. What carat gold is it?
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[bernard_ric]

Their appears to be 4 marks after the date mark (total 6 + maker). Is this correct as it seems a large number. In addition to makers mark, I would expect to find town mark, 2 gold marks, and date letter. Can you describe these other marks. What carat gold is it?

The ring is of 18C gold and the marks to which you refer are B460 and appear at the opposite end to the makers mark.

You can see the Town mark albeit blurred to the left in the picture with the B460 - it is the mark for Chester.

The picture below shows the 18 C mark and Crown also the town mark but still slightly blurred.


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[bernard_ric]

I now have confirmation of the information supplied by Trev that this is the mark of Samuel Usher. The curator at the Birmingham Essay Office writes:

"Providing your identification of the letters in this mark is accurate, this is the mark of Samuel Usher Ltd of 123 Vyse Street, Birmingham, and this mark was registered with the Chester Assay Office and the Birmingham Assay Office".
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