The SoldSnap Journal
Reading what an object tells you about itself. Fineness stamps and assay marks on gold and silver, backstamps on ceramics, movement plates in watches and clocks, and the surface evidence that separates an original picture from a reproduction. These guides cover the United States, Europe and the Gulf, because the marking rules differ by market and most references only document one of them.
Almost everyone checks the mark first. A competent reproduction copies the mark first too, which is why it is the weakest evidence on the object rather than the strongest.
SoldSnap7 min read
Almost every object worth valuing carries a mark that tells you what it is made of, who made it, or whether it is a reproduction. Four kinds of mark, and how to read each one.
SoldSnap8 min read