Read the back first.
Before the stone, before the story, turn the piece over. The stamp on the back of old silver says more than any listing. These notes teach you how to read it.
What the common stamps claim
- STERLING
At least 92.5% silver. The standard you will see most.
- 925
The same standard, written as a number.
- COIN
An older standard of about 90% silver.
- GERMAN SILVER
Copper, nickel and zinc. No silver at all.
- ALPACA
A nickel-silver alloy often used in Mexico. No silver.
- NO MARK
Common on older pieces. It proves nothing either way.
A stamp records what the maker claimed, not what the piece is. Stamps can be faked, so treat them as the first clue, not the last word.
Silver and turquoise
- How to read hallmarks on vintage silverWhat 925, 800, sterling and the stamps that mean no silver are telling you.
- Japanese silver hallmarksSV925, 純銀 and the Japan Mint mark with the national flag.
- Handmade or mass-produced?Stamp work, the back finish and weight in the hand.
- Turquoise: natural, stabilized, dyed or plasticWhat each treatment looks like and how sellers describe it.
- What "old pawn" really meansWhere the term comes from and why it is overused.
- Buying old silver online: a checklistThe photos and questions to ask before you pay.
Vintage clothing
The same idea works for clothes: the label inside says more than the listing. Guides on reading tags, care labels and construction details are on the way.
Who writes these notes
We run a small vintage shop in Japan and handle old clothing, silver and turquoise every week: buying it, checking it, cleaning it and passing it on. These notes are what we look at before we trust a piece.