Origin of Stamps for Precious Metals in France

The word “stamp” is commonly used in the world of jewelry and silverware to mark objects made of precious metals, particularly silver or gold with the gold guarantee mark. Over the years, the mark on silver items has evolved significantly, moving from primitive stamps to the current situation. In France, the history of stamps dates back to 1862 with the discovery of a signature from Medami, a Gallo-Roman silversmith, on a silver amphora during archaeological excavations in Alesia. During the French Revolution, a law regarding the supervision of purity and the collection of guarantee rights on materials and works of gold and silver was enacted. Since May 10, 1838, modern stamps have been in force and all silver articles sold in France must bear both the master’s stamp and the guarantee stamp. Currently, France is governed by the law of 19 Brumaire Year VI concerning precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum.

Classes of Silver-Plated Cutlery

Each class of sterling silver cutlery includes silver-plated items as well as sterling silver table knives, sterling silver dinnerware with table forks, coffee spoons, or even bowls.

This is true whether you own sterling silver or pure silver, as it is often impossible to determine the state of silver at first glance.

Chemical Composition

Any item described as being made of pure silver, or alternatively fine silver, is as pure as possible : it is made of pure elemental silver at 99.9%. It contains very little trace of other elements, but it is essentially pure silver.

Uses of Silver

Pure silver is quite soft and difficult to shape properly, making it challenging to use for items requiring everyday use or specific forms. For this reason, fine silver is generally not intended for the making of delicate and fine jewelry. They can be easily bent, warped, or damaged, which is why fine silver is primarily reserved for the creation of precious jewelry. This means that the gases present in the air react with silver, causing discoloration, tarnishing, and what appears to be a dirty layer on silver products. This stamp usually bears the designation 999 or .999 or 99.9 to indicate that it consists of 99.9% pure silver, with fine silver to be considered.

Solid Silver

If pure silver, also known as fine silver, is as pure as possible, it makes sense that solid silver is not quite as pure, although it is close. Sterling silver consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% alloy. This allows it to be used in the manufacturing of many items, including :

• Jewelry
• Silver table articles
• Plates
• Trays
• Coffee sets
• Silver-plated items

Unlike fine silver, solid silver is less prone to tarnishing when exposed to open air. However, it tarnishes more easily due to the alloy metals it contains. When combined with another metal that can tarnish, such as silver, the tarnishing process is quicker and occurs more easily. These stamps are usually 925 or 92.5 or .925 to indicate the purity of the silver they contain. However, you may also sometimes see ss as a mark for solid silver.

Overall, the stamp on silverware indicates the type of silver alloy used to guarantee its purity. Therefore, the stamped marking serves as the best means to determine the true value of silver pieces. A stamp is applied to silver articles weighing more than 30 grams. If it is square or rectangular, it means the item is not solid silver.

Thus, understanding the history and significance of different silver stamps will allow you to better appreciate the quality and value of the precious metal objects that surround you.