Some pieces of Mexican jewelry are engraved with the letters MEXICO and 925, as well as a hallmark, which can be considered a silversmith's signature.
This hallmark was dug by the workshop that produced the item to prove that it was made in-house, so it is possible to identify which workshop and when it was made.
Of course, there are many rings that are not engraved, but when I find a ring with a hallmark, I get excited thinking that it was made by a famous silversmith workshop.
However, some people may be wondering how to identify this hallmark.
I am referring to the following books.
https://billhougartbooks.com/collections/frontpage/products/ebook-the-little-book-of-mexican-silver-trade-and-hallmarks
This is a book about hallmarks written by Bille Hougart, an American collector of Mexican jewelry.
For example, this Mexican jewelry...
There is a carved seal called the eagle mark on the outside of the ring.
You can see the stamp APB.
This eagle mark and APB are also explained in Mexican Silver Hallmarks.
Please refer to this book for details, but it seems that the Mexican government introduced it around 1948 to manage and control the distribution of silver. The approximate location of production can be estimated by the number on this mark. This mark also seems to have been used to manage the payment of taxes on silver.
There are many other patterns for APB. It is assumed that these are the initials assigned to the workshop or the initials of the individual, and Mexican Silver Hallmarks also lists information for each initial.
There are also photos and explanations of hallmarks from other famous designers, so it's fun to try matching them with the engravings on your jewelry.
