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9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

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Clariman
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9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64717

Postby Clariman » July 4th, 2017, 2:14 pm

We have a 9ct Gold locket pendant with glass and photos on both side. I think I have identified the photos on it - as a distant relation born around 1895. In the pictures she looks about 4 one one side and 12 or 14 on the other, so that would place the date of the later photo around 1907 to 1909 which I would say matches the style of it.

The only marking I can find on it is "9ct" which is on the border on the reverse. However, I cannot find a hallmark anywhere. Should there not be one somewhere? There is a gold chain and the locket pendant itself. Should they both be hall-marked?

I'm trying to work out the date and the place it came from, as part of family history.

Thanks
Clariman

Dod1010
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64720

Postby Dod1010 » July 4th, 2017, 2:25 pm

It might be a fake or it might have been bought overseas, although not the Far East as they would almost certainly claim that it was at least 18 ct if not higher. Otherwise I cannot help I am sorry to say. I am interested to watch the thread though.

Dod

Clariman
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64725

Postby Clariman » July 4th, 2017, 2:41 pm

Just found a website saying that hallmarking only became compulsory in 1973 but I don't know if that is true. I've had a jeweller and an auction house look at it and they both said it was Gold but I stupidly didn't ask about dates. :oops:

PinkDalek
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64732

Postby PinkDalek » July 4th, 2017, 3:30 pm

Clariman wrote:We have a 9ct Gold locket pendant with glass and photos on both side. I think I have identified the photos on it - as a distant relation born around 1895. In the pictures she looks about 4 one one side and 12 or 14 on the other, so that would place the date of the later photo around 1907 to 1909 which I would say matches the style of it.

The only marking I can find on it is "9ct" which is on the border on the reverse. However, I cannot find a hallmark anywhere. Should there not be one somewhere? There is a gold chain and the locket pendant itself. Should they both be hall-marked?

I'm trying to work out the date and the place it came from, as part of family history.

Thanks
Clariman


It may be that the hallmark has rubbed off with polishing/cleaning but it would probably leave a trace. I know you say you can't find one anywhere but have you looked inside the pendant and have you used a magnifying glass or equivalent?

PinkDalek
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64733

Postby PinkDalek » July 4th, 2017, 3:34 pm

Clariman wrote:Just found a website saying that hallmarking only became compulsory in 1973 but I don't know if that is true. I've had a jeweller and an auction house look at it and they both said it was Gold but I stupidly didn't ask about dates. :oops:


As per https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/hal ... a-hallmark :

The UK Hallmarking Act (1973) states that it is an offence for any person, in the course of trade or business, to describe an un-hallmarked article as being wholly or partly made of precious metal(s) or to supply un-hallmarked articles to which such a description is applied.

Not everything had to be hallmarked, unless you are trying to sell it. That's why auction house used to (may still do) describe un-hallmarked silver as white metal.

Rhyd6
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64760

Postby Rhyd6 » July 4th, 2017, 6:13 pm

It is possible to get it assayed and hallmarked. A reputable jeweller should be able to do this for you. I had a gold brooch of my great grandmothers hallmarked as I wanted to know the value for my house insurance.

R6

PinkDalek
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64764

Postby PinkDalek » July 4th, 2017, 6:23 pm

Rhyd6 wrote:It is possible to get it assayed and hallmarked. ...


Yes but won't that be with the date of the hallmark. Clariman is trying to date the pendant.

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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#64975

Postby SlugPizza » July 5th, 2017, 4:17 pm

Further to previous answers - gold from some countries do/did not carry quality marks - some larger dealers in gold have behind the scenes a mass-spectrometer which when used with accurate scales can tell you if the item is plated (gold washed is another term) or solid 9ct etc.

I wear some "gold" that is fact sterling silver with a gold wash but looks like 9ct.

Trishakapoor
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#375038

Postby Trishakapoor » January 9th, 2021, 9:29 am

Great Information was very useful for me.

chas49
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#375090

Postby chas49 » January 9th, 2021, 11:54 am

PinkDalek wrote:
Clariman wrote:Just found a website saying that hallmarking only became compulsory in 1973 but I don't know if that is true. I've had a jeweller and an auction house look at it and they both said it was Gold but I stupidly didn't ask about dates. :oops:


As per https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/hal ... a-hallmark :

The UK Hallmarking Act (1973) states that it is an offence for any person, in the course of trade or business, to describe an un-hallmarked article as being wholly or partly made of precious metal(s) or to supply un-hallmarked articles to which such a description is applied.

Not everything had to be hallmarked, unless you are trying to sell it. That's why auction house used to (may still do) describe un-hallmarked silver as white metal.


The Act contains some exemptions from the requirement to hallmark - including this (bold added as relevant to the OP):

Schedule 1, HA1973
15.
The following articles of gold, if manufactured before 1st January 1975, and [...] of minimum fineness—
(a) rings, except wedding rings, pencil cases, lockets, watch chains and thimbles,

airbus330
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#375241

Postby airbus330 » January 9th, 2021, 5:21 pm

Recently disposed of a bunch of assorted gold items from a relative. Many were hallmarked but many had just the 9ct or 14ct or nothing at all. I sold them to Hatton Garden Metals (who I have used a few times for this) and they assayed everything individually. I only got one piece wrong, which they obviously spotted. Apparently for old gold from Europe this mish mash of marks and even no marks is pretty common.

Shreekantpillay
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Re: 9ct Gold item without hallmark - or where is the mark?

#388655

Postby Shreekantpillay » February 22nd, 2021, 10:43 am

Great information was very useful for me..


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