www.925-1000.com

Hello,
18 years ago I was making "mud pies" in my Grandparents garden, they lived in Middleton, Leeds. I found a ring there and I remember taking it to my Gran and we soaked it in vinegar to clean it (I know that probably wasn't the best way). Recently I found the ring again in a jewellery box I had put to one side.
The ring is missing three stones and is still quite dirty but now fascinates me on where it came from.

I can decipher one mark (Z) but after a lot of research I've realised unless I can figure out the other two marks that this Z on a square background could be a number of dates.

I wonder if someone with a little bit more experience could look at the images below and shed any light? I have taken pictures from different angels as I wasn't sure which way was correct.

I did think it was British Silver but as I can't figure out the makers mark could it be an import and I've wasted time researching British?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Alex

Hi Alex,

Welcome to the Forum.

Your ring was assayed at Dublin in 1967. Are there no other marks?

Trev.

Hi Trev

Thank you for that! I'm glad to know something about it now!

There are no other marks on it, after doing further research I thought it should have more too. Does that mean it's perhaps a bit of a fake or "shoddy" workmanship?

KR
Alex

Hi Alex,

In theory it should have a maker's mark applied prior to submission at the assay office, but perhaps this one slipped through the net.

Trev.

Thanks again! So I can know its origins but I will never know who made it?

Just adding to my post above - I'm fascinated by hallmarking now and so I know I understand my research, you knew those details because you read the Hallmark like this:



(I have to admit I was studying the images upside down for quite some time)

- The first symbol is the Hibernia, meaning the Dublin Hassay office?

- The second symbol is the Crowned Harp, which relates to the fineness/purity which in this case means sterling silver?

- And the last one is a Z in a square background, which is the date mark. My researched failed here as I can only find letter date marks up to 1920. Am I missing something really obvious?

Thanks again for all your help!

Al 8-)

Hi Alex,

Yes, you are correct as far as the marks are nowadays accepted. Technically, the Harp Crowned mark is a fineness mark struck by the Dublin Assay Office. The Hibernia mark was introduced in 1730 was was used to denote that the Duty on the piece had been paid.

Trev.