The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Silver bracelet with strange markings on it ?

September 12, 2009

The markings on the bracelet are (NN VLPHO NB). The seller said he had it tested by a jeweler and told me it was thought to be higher purity than %92.5 due to the lack of corrosion, and he thought it was an Asian piece. The bracelet also has a small 14k symbol of 3 elephants under a pagoda soldered on it as well. Any ideas or opinions on this would be most appreciated. I also bought a necklace that is stamped 926. I assume this is just a higher purity of silver? Is this common? and is it really that much better than 925 Sterling? Thanks again.

  

Bob Large
- Jackson, Michigan

---

Hi, Bob. If you watch Antiques Road Show, the vital first question the appraiser asks every time is the history of the item. Unfortunately you can provide none -- just that you got it from some stranger on eBay who doesn't know or won't say where he got it, and who may have simply stamped the numbers himself to make it sound exotic :-) w
When there's no traceability, there is little reason not to commit fraud or forgery.

As we scour the world, there are an infinite number of possible markings on a bracelet, so we normally don't print this kind of question because we could print ten thousand without getting a single usable answer. But, since you took the time to provide photos of this interesting item, maybe someone can comment on some element of your inquiry. Good luck!

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 14, 2009

---

First choice is that it is from Thailand. Next would be from India. I really like choice 1 by about 4 to 1 odds.
Its value is the value of the silver, assuming that it is sterling. The personal value is probably a lot higher or you would not have bought it. Assume that it is sterling and enjoy your purchase.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
September 15, 2009

---

September 17, 2009

I have been collecting silver tea sets and table ware for years. Not so much in jewelry because it isn't worth much more than the metal it's made from.
Large, ornate silver pieces can demand some pretty high prices primarily because of the time taken to produce quality work but the little stuff is often just trinket material unless its combined with stones and gold.
Also some silverware can have some artsy fartsy snob appeal just because a certain silversmith has his named stamped on it.
Most cheap silver tends to be Asian and the good, fine and sometimes valuable stuff is often Persian or Japanese. The latter two are usually quite delicate while the Asian stuff is much heavier like the piece you have.

Pure silver is like gold and does not tarnish but it is never used as it is simply to soft. Fine silver is %99 silver and the rest is copper. It will tarnish but very slowly. Sterling is %93 silver and tarnishes at the drop of a hat.
From your photo I can't really tell what the avatar on your bracelet is supposed to be but it sort of looks Asian from a distance.

As far as the makers stamps you might as well forget it unless it happens to be English. Japanese proofs or makers stamps tend to stand out like a sore thumb and most of the other stuff is often seldom stamped.

In the photo supplied the sterling, English 1930s commissary set is worth about $800.00 and my CST graduation fine silver ring at the top is worth about $5.00

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada