The Journal
Identification Guides
-
How to Tell If Gold Is Real
Start with the stamp: 10K, 14K, 18K or 417, 585, 750 means solid gold; GP, GF, HGE or RGP means plated or filled. Then try simple home tests.
-
Pewter vs Silver: 7 Ways to Tell the Difference at Home
The pewter vs silver difference is one of the most persistent identification challenges in antique collecting, and it has been catching out buyers since the medieval period. Both…
-
UK Silver Hallmarks Symbols Explained: Lion Passant, Crown, Date Letter and More
UK silver hallmarks explained, those small, stamped symbols punched into the surface of British silverware, form a legal identity system that has protected buyers and regulated silversmiths for…
-
Silver Makers Marks UK: The Complete Identification Guide
Silver makers marks UK collectors encounter on antique pieces are the single most direct link between a finished object and the craftsman who created it. Before an assay…