Silver Jewelry : How to Identify Marks and Date Silver Jewelry

What are Silver Jewelry Marks?

Silver jewelry marks are the hallmarks found on silver jewelry to help identify the composition and source of the jewelry. At a minimum they include the purity marks that indicate the silver content, and can also include the maker’s mark (or signature). Silver jewelry marks can also include the region or town where the piece was made and/or date letters to indicate the year when the piece was made.

American Silver Jewelry Marks

American silver jewelry marks are fairly simple, usually including a purity mark, and sometimes a maker’s mark. Because Sterling Silver is 92.5% silver, the common purity mark used today is “925.” Most vintage Sterling Silver pieces have the older marks: “STERLING,” “STER,” or “STG.” Some modern jewelry today will use “STERLING” either with “925” or without it, usually in conjunction with the maker’s mark.

To look up a maker’s mark, use the Alphabetical Listing by Maker’s Name by clicking a letter. You can also use the Pictorial Marks to locate symbols and the Initial Marks to identify initials used by a company when you don’t know the company name. Note that the database includes marks used on flatware and other silver items, so you may need to search a bit to locate the company you want.