Hallmarks · By country
Spanish hallmarks
Spanish marking was regional and inconsistent until the twentieth century, so most Spanish antique jewelry is identified by construction rather than by mark.
- Marking since
- 1934
- Gives a year
- No
How the system works
A national system using fineness figures with letter codes was introduced in the twentieth century. Before that, marks were issued by individual cities and guilds and vary enormously.
The standards
| Figure or mark | Fineness and use |
|---|---|
| 916 | 22 carat gold, common in Spanish work. |
| 750 | 18 carat gold. |
| 915 or 916 | High standard silver in some regional work. |
| 925 | Sterling silver. |
Dating a spanish piece
Rarely possible from marks alone. Spanish colonial and provincial silver is a specialist field with its own regional literature.
Where the marks will not give you a year, date the piece from its construction instead: the catch, the metal, the setting and the cut of the stones. That method is set out in how to date antique jewelry.
Where people go wrong
- Much Spanish devotional silver is unmarked and genuine.
- 916 is a common Spanish gold standard, higher than most of Europe.
Other countries
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