Jewelry Makers Marks Identifying your Art Jewelry with Distinction

Jewelry Makers Marks are the initials or symbols of the manufacturing firm or jewelry artist. They are usually found in the back of jewelry items and they allow collectors to identify its maker. Hallmarks are symbol s are usually stamped into gold, silver or platinum items, and they serve the purpose of identifying the type and quality of metal used. Many times the hallmark can give some clues to the country of origin and dates when a jewelry piece was created.

The word hallmark is derived from London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, the originator of Britain’s first hallmarks. Hallmarks have been used in many European countries 14th century. The United States has never used hallmarks, instead symbols indicating the fineness or karat have been required since 1906, but fineness marks were sometimes stamped on silver jewelry in the 19th century. Some examples is the letter K (24k0 representing karat after a number to indicate the quantity of gold a piece of jewelry contains or the number .925 (sterling silver) to indicate the amount of silver present.

Maker’s marks are helpful in identifying vintage jewelry before purchasing or for insurance purposes. They are also important as an identification and marketing strategy for contemporary jewelry artist.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Jewelry Makers Mark Stamp

1. Decide what type of stamp to order?
   

   That would depend on the purpose and usage of the stamp. Consider if you will be marking small or large surfaces. Marking rings usually requires a separate type of stamp that allows you to put enough pressure in the inside surface of the ring. The Makers Mark stamps can be as large as 3/4", the Ring Stamps can be up to 1/4". As a rule of thumb, block lettering that is .5mm tall can be seen with good light and 20/20 vision without the use of a magnifying glass. It is much easier for someone to read letters than to try to determine what a certain graphic image is supposed to say or be. If you are stamping text next to a logo, a good idea is to order the logo stamp slightly larger than the text stamp to give a nice look without having the text over power your logo.

   
   

2. Should I use my logo or my signature?
   

   Once again take in consideration the size of you logo and the surface you will be stamping. When the design of the logo or the signature is more complex the harder it will be to distinguish what it is or what it is supposed to say given the small size. Contact the manufacturer for specific recommendations. Sometimes they will be willing to type set the design before creating the stamp. Remember, as far as legibility, the simpler and cleaner the format, the easier it will be to read. I opted for letters instead of my logo, because I was concerned about legibility.
   

   When your work is on the larger size you can opt for a non-micro size stamp, however, the larger the stamp, the more pressure will be required to make an impression into the metal, unless you are stamping into wax for casting. You may not be able to exert the necessary force required if you use a large stamp, or worse, you may damage your ring in the stamping process.
   

3. Will the manufacturer create a prototype for me to check before I order my stamp?
   

   
   

   Most manufacturers will charge you for any stamp the make. To avoid spending extra money, it is very important that you provide the manufacturer with camera ready artwork. Check with them for specific requirements.
   

4. How do I register my log before creating a stamp? The best place to start is to visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website. This website is very informative and can help you get the necessary info that you need. http://www.uspto.gov
   

5. I have a Jewelry Makers Mark stamp, but when I stamp with it I can barely see more than a scratch on the tags. Why is this?
   

   When you can only see a faint image when you stamp an item, it means that you may not have used enough pressure. Use a heavier hammer; avoid using a rubber mallet or raw hide hammer. Make sure that whatever you are striking is on a firm surface such as an anvil or steel stamping block. Wooden desktops or rubber padded desks are not ideal conditions for stamping metal. The desk will absorb most of the impact, requiring you to hit the stamp with more force, and anything that isn't glued to the desk usually goes flying during the stamping process. You can try stamping on concrete floors or cinder blocks. The item being struck takes all of the impact. Invest in a stamping block. They're inexpensive, and very effective.
   

     From jewelry makers marks back to jewelry making tips and technques