topic Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS in Jewelry

PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Shanus — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:18:25 GMT

I noticed on two jewelry shows last night that the jewelry stamp .925 was obvious inside the back of hoop earrings.

As a former jeweler, there are so many other places to place the stamp so not seen when wearing them. I've also noticed "China" or "India" placed where it's noticed on jewelry. I returned earrings that had a large CZ stamp that was too visible.

Does it bother anyone else?

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

PinkyPetunia — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:20:31 GMT

I can't say I've noticed, but I haven't ordered any new jewelry in years.

My DH passed away in 2020 and I don't wear any rings now. Earrings and neckchains I have in abundance and have been wearing what I have.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Pyrite2616 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:53:01 GMT

It might be these Sophie Blake earrings that you're talking about. You can tell that they're not great jewelry designers. The stamp on hoop earrings should be on the end of the tubing, the post or the backing.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Shanus — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 22:30:41 GMT

I used to put the stamp or sign the hoop inside near the post or where the wire goes through the ear. It can never be seen there. @Pyrite2616 Thanks for posting the pic.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Desert Lily — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 22:53:57 GMT

When I was a Buyer, one of my categories was fine jewelry. I attended numerous major jewelry shows throughout those years & regularly went to LA. The stock at those shows was pre-stamped. I never a met a jeweler who did their own stamps, only goldsmiths, etc.

I had some custom jewelry made some years ago. I went to a jewelry designer, chose the stones & gold type, gave him drawings that he refined for my authorization, and he didn't stamp my items.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

BirkiLady — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 23:15:10 GMT

After seeing the photos of stamping such large stamps on small pieces of jewelry, I doubt that would be a purchase I would ever consider for many reasons. Flashy stamping does not equal a well-made product or an attractive earring from each angle viewed.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

tends2dogs — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 23:33:59 GMT

@Desert Lily wrote:
When I was a Buyer, one of my categories was fine jewelry. I attended numerous major jewelry shows throughout those years & regularly went to LA. The stock at those shows was pre-stamped. I never a met a jeweler who did their own stamps, only goldsmiths, etc.

I had some custom jewelry made some years ago. I went to a jewelry designer, chose the stones & gold type, gave him drawings that he refined for my authorization, and he didn't stamp my items.

That is what I thought when I read the OP. Anyone could stamp anything. Where is the proof?

One would have to be very careful. There are many deceivers out there.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Trinity11 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 23:47:18 GMT

@Desert Lily wrote:
When I was a Buyer, one of my categories was fine jewelry. I attended numerous major jewelry shows throughout those years & regularly went to LA. The stock at those shows was pre-stamped. I never a met a jeweler who did their own stamps, only goldsmiths, etc.

I had some custom jewelry made some years ago. I went to a jewelry designer, chose the stones & gold type, gave him drawings that he refined for my authorization, and he didn't stamp my items.

There are regulations You are correct @Desert Lily . You must have a registered trademark before you can qualify stamp anything. It needs to be registered with state and federal levels so you can be found if you are defrauding someone. The average jewelry designer selling random pieces of homemade jewelry will send out their pieces to be stamped as it is not easy to go through the regulations necessary (time and cost) to hand stamp at home. If they are doing so there can be repercussions from The Federal Trade Commission.

I worked in the industry for years. Sadly, I saw many consumers victims of fraudulent practices.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Shanus — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:24:46 GMT

I had a .925 stamp that I placed inside every piece I made. If it was too small a piece and/or difficult to stamp, I hand engraved the metal and always engraved my initials. Unless you're making jewelry in huge quantites to sell to a retailer, going through all the regulations is not necessary.

All pieces made or designed by an individual artist should at least have the type of metal stamped or engraved inside...especially gold or platinum. If not, any appraisals would mean removing stones and testing the metal w/ chemicals to verify the piece.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Trinity11 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:40:00 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
I had a .925 stamp that I placed inside every piece I made. If it was too small a piece and/or difficult to stamp, I hand engraved the metal and always engraved my initials. Unless you're making jewelry in huge quantites to sell to a retailer, going through all the regulations is not necessary.

All pieces made or designed by an individual artist should at least have the type of metal stamped or engraved inside...especially gold or platinum. If not, any appraisals would mean removing stones and testing the metal w/ chemicals to verify the piece.

????????? Yes, some THINK they can get away without going through the regulations set forth by the industry (for consumer protection) but sadly their customers have no idea that they don't FOLLOW regulations. When I worked in the industry, I saw a great deal of under karat gold stamped from unscrupulous jewelry dealers who thought they could do whatever they wanted. 🙄 Same with silversmiths.

edited to add...some do stamp their own jewelry but it is NOT legal to do so.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Desert Lily — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:13:45 GMT

@Shanus @Trinity11 This excerpt is from the United States National Gold and Silver Stamping Act at the UScode dot House dot Gov site:

(In other words if a person stamps metal, that person must include their trademark. Their trademark must be certified and registered.)

It appears to be an extensive law. The law in its entirety can be found online.

(b) Identifying trademark

Whenever any person, firm, corporation, or association, being a manufacturer or dealer subject to section 294 of this title—

(1) applies or causes to be applied to any article of merchandise intended for sale or customarily sold as a complete product to consumers in any State, by stamping, branding, engraving, or otherwise, any quality mark or stamp indicating or purporting to indicate that such article is made in whole or in part of gold or silver or of an alloy of either such metal; or

(2) imports into any State any such article of merchandise bearing any such quality mark or stamp which indicates or purports to indicate that such article is made in whole or in part of gold or silver or of an alloy of either such metal,

such person, firm, corporation, or association, before depositing any such article manufactured or imported after six months after the effective date of this Act in the United States mails, or causing such article to be so deposited, for transmission thereby, or delivering such article or causing such article to be delivered to any common carrier for transportation from one State to any other State, or transporting such article or causing such article to be transported from one State to any other State, shall—

(A) Apply or cause to be applied to that article a trademark of such persons, which has been duly registered or applied for registration under the laws of the United States within thirty days after an article bearing the trademark is placed in commerce or imported into the United States, or the name of such person; and

(B) if such article of merchandise is composed of two or more parts which are complete in themselves but which are not identical in quality, and any one of such parts bears such a quality mark or stamp, apply or cause to be applied to each other part of that article of merchandise a quality mark or stamp of like pattern and size disclosing the quality of that other part.

Each identifying trademark or name applied to any article of merchandise in compliance with clause (A) of this subsection shall be applied to that article by the same means as that used in applying the quality mark or stamp appearing thereon, in type or lettering at least as large as that used in such quality mark or stamp, and in a position as close as possible to that quality mark or stamp

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

riley1 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:47:22 GMT

@Desert Lily - Very interesting article. Thank you for posting.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Trinity11 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:34:26 GMT

@Desert Lily wrote:
@Shanus @Trinity11 This excerpt is from the United States National Gold and Silver Stamping Act at the UScode dot House dot Gov site:

(In other words if a person stamps metal, that person must include their trademark. Their trademark must be certified and registered.)
It appears to be an extensive law. The law in its entirety can be found online.

(b) Identifying trademark
Whenever any person, firm, corporation, or association, being a manufacturer or dealer subject to section 294 of this title—

(1) applies or causes to be applied to any article of merchandise intended for sale or customarily sold as a complete product to consumers in any State, by stamping, branding, engraving, or otherwise, any quality mark or stamp indicating or purporting to indicate that such article is made in whole or in part of gold or silver or of an alloy of either such metal; or

(2) imports into any State any such article of merchandise bearing any such quality mark or stamp which indicates or purports to indicate that such article is made in whole or in part of gold or silver or of an alloy of either such metal,

such person, firm, corporation, or association, before depositing any such article manufactured or imported after six months after the effective date of this Act in the United States mails, or causing such article to be so deposited, for transmission thereby, or delivering such article or causing such article to be delivered to any common carrier for transportation from one State to any other State, or transporting such article or causing such article to be transported from one State to any other State, shall—

(A) Apply or cause to be applied to that article a trademark of such persons, which has been duly registered or applied for registration under the laws of the United States within thirty days after an article bearing the trademark is placed in commerce or imported into the United States, or the name of such person; and

(B) if such article of merchandise is composed of two or more parts which are complete in themselves but which are not identical in quality, and any one of such parts bears such a quality mark or stamp, apply or cause to be applied to each other part of that article of merchandise a quality mark or stamp of like pattern and size disclosing the quality of that other part.

Each identifying trademark or name applied to any article of merchandise in compliance with clause (A) of this subsection shall be applied to that article by the same means as that used in applying the quality mark or stamp appearing thereon, in type or lettering at least as large as that used in such quality mark or stamp, and in a position as close as possible to that quality mark or stamp

Thank you @Desert Lily . That was exactly what I was familiar with when I was in management for a major jeweler on 5th Ave. Thankfully, there are safety guards for the consumer when purchasing fine jewelry.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

spumoni99 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 20:01:10 GMT

This is why I would never buy jewlery from someone making it at home casually. If someone thinks its no big deal to break the law with the stamps that is scary.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Shanus — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 13:01:48 GMT

If referring to me, NO ONE (even during my jewelry studies at Duke University) mentioned more than stamping the piece, signing or initialing the piece.

I was not "manufacturing" jewelry to sell to Macy's, NM, or Nordstrom. It was either a one on one designing for a customer who obviously trusted I wasn't going to use a base metal and tell them it was silver or gold plated.

I do agree with regulations if a factory or company is making large quantities of jewelry to sell retail like Eterna Gold, etc. then yes those rules apply. Individual designs with the person sitting across from my studio table over my garage does not apply. I did too many craft shows to count and no fellow jewelers had trademarks other than initially or signing their work along with the metal stamps.

I haven't made or sold jewelry in many years and in packing, all the metals and stones as well as tools and torches/tanks have been sold. It's a moot point now.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Trinity11 — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:24:01 GMT

@spumoni99 wrote:
This is why I would never buy jewlery from someone making it at home casually. If someone thinks its no big deal to break the law with the stamps that is scary.

Yes, some make their own rules when it comes to selling jewelry. They have no interest in the legalities and their obligation to their clients of following protocol. Buyer beware @spumoni99 . 😳🥺

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Bri369 — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:34:23 GMT

The fantasies are so out of control sometimes.

Re: PROMINENT METAL STAMPS

Sooner — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:37:28 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@spumoni99 wrote:
This is why I would never buy jewlery from someone making it at home casually. If someone thinks its no big deal to break the law with the stamps that is scary.
Yes, some make their own rules when it comes to selling jewelry. They have no interest in the legalities and their obligation to their clients of following protocol. Buyer beware @spumoni99 . 😳🥺

@Trinity11 Same goes with farming. That's why I don't swear by things I buy at a farm stand. You have no idea what was put on those plants, they aren't government inspected, etc.

So yes a lot if fresh, but organic? Maybe, maybe not. It's just the word of the person selling it. It can even come to them through a wholesaler--at our farmer's market it is supposed to me marked whether grown by the vendor or not.