The Vaulted Shelf

Sep 14, Star Marks on Antique and 20th Century jewelry

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:55:00 -0400

A Collection of STAR marks on Antique & 20th Century Jewelry

Aug 31, My Grandma's German (?) Pendant...continued - have pics now!

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:39:20 -0400

Hi Yvonne...I figured out how to resize my pictures to under 1MB however I do believe the compression took away some details in the pictures but it will

Aug 28, 18k gold maker's mark

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:46:10 -0400

What is the item? 18k gold cuff links/matching ring Can you please provide all background information? antique piece/estate/owner received through inheritance

Aug 27, Alabaster: From Ancient Stone to Modern Investment

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:42:03 -0400

Tutankhamun’s Alabaster Lamp, 1333 BC
The “Stone of Light” carved for eternity

The triple lotus design wasn’t just beautiful. In 1333 BC, alabaster meant purity, light, and protection for the afterlife. Tutankhamun’s lamp shows how ancient craftsmen turned translucent stone into functional art that’s still valuable 3,300 years later.

60 seconds: Why alabaster was called the "Stone of Light" in ancient Egypt

Alabaster Barque Perfume Vessel of Tutankhamun, 1327 BC
Royal boat form. Museum centrepiece

Shaped like a royal barque, this vessel held perfume for the gods. The boat form symbolized Tutankhamun’s journey through the underworld. Today it’s one of the Egyptian Museum’s centerpieces - and a blueprint for understanding how form + function create investment value.

Why Alabaster Mattered to Kings

Why did it matter? Light was more valuable than gold.

In ancient Egypt, alabaster wasn’t just stone. It was captured light. While gold showed wealth, alabaster showed power over darkness. Tombs were pitch black. Lamps carved from translucent Egyptian alabaster glowed from within when oil burned behind them. For Tutankhamun, that glow meant guidance through the underworld. For priests, it meant the gods could see offerings.

That’s why kings spent months having a single vessel carved. No iron tools. No shortcuts. Just copper, sand, and patience. The stone itself was rare - quarried at Hatnub, 20 days from Thebes. Transport it, carve it, polish it to paper-thin walls... all for a glow that lasted one night.

Today we call that “inefficient”. They called it “eternal”. And 3,300 years later, Tut’s lamp still glows in museum cases. Gold tarnishes. Alabaster doesn’t.

Aug 20, Incolay Cameo Box

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:36:48 -0400

I have a blue Incolay box with white swirls through it. It has a brass hinge is very heavy & in perfect condition with a velvet inside. It has a c with

Aug 12, Join the Bench | Yvonne Hammouda - Eyre News | Subscribe

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:19:45 -0400

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Aug 5, Hallmark on this vintage mine cut diamond ring

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 07:30:34 -0400

What is the item? Vintage min cut diamond ring in platinum setting. Can you please provide all background information? 33 diamonds total, 1 yellow center

Jul 30, Maker of 18k gold ring?

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:00:49 -0400

What is the item? An 18kt quadrefoil ring Can you please provide all background information? Ring is very thin. 1.7g I purchased on Ebay as an antique

Jul 30, Watch hallmark

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:27:23 -0400

Need help identifying 9ct gold watch Swiss made London import I think .375 inverted omega s or g and makers mark G.S. or G.J. Would be grateful of

Jul 29, Any body knows what these numbers 1817 and this Hallmark mean?

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 01:47:48 -0400

Any information on this cup would be appreciated , engraved on the side theres a name Gertrude Pewett, on the bottom it says Sterling,1817 there’s an S

Jul 27, who makes the serpent wrapped around the shaft of an anchor hallmark?

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:30:56 -0400

What is the item? inkwell Can you please provide all background information?solid brass pocket w/g.e.schutzt/gesetzlich. What are the markings? the

Jul 27, Hallmark on a Gold Bangle

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 01:35:54 -0400

Gold bangle probably 9ct. See picture. Find out why Gold with Provenance beats gold bars: View the full case study in The Vaulted Shelf Museum→ Understanding

Jul 26, 14K, F.S. & Alexandrite?

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 08:12:34 -0400

I have this very old ring. It has a 9.5mm round cut alexandrite stone. I can only assume that the stone is synthetic due to the popularity of created

Jul 26, This Asprey Bangle Survived 1929. Why This Mattered.

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Asprey 1929 is prime Art Deco period. If it’s 22ct that’s even rarer. This is exactly the kind of "gold with provenance" that laughs at bullion bars.

🐯 Join The Bench

Get gold market intelligence, hallmark case files, and the Jewel-of-the-Month. No fluff. Just real gold talk.

Jul 22, LOTR gold replica of the one ring

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:09:04 -0400

Gold lord of the rings one ring replica I received this as a gift for Christmas, and it came in a little bag without any identification of how many k

Jul 20, What does this bracelet hallmark mean?

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:37:23 -0400

What is the item? Gold Bracelet Can you please provide all background information? Purchased at auction - history for the item is unknown - it was simply

Jul 17, Numeric hallmark question

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:03:24 -0400

Appears to be Antique gold ring with center emerald and diamonds with a hallmark of '7680'. The setting is ornate but not large. There is scrollwork and

Jul 17, Makers mark E F C on gold bracelet lock

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:55:12 -0400

I have a gold bracelet with the makers mark E F C stamped in individual squares to the left of the hallmarks on the lock. I have identifed the other hallmarks

Jul 17, Flower Face Hallmark on Bangle

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 02:21:01 -0400

We are unable to find any information about a strange hallmark print inside a bracelet we have had for some time and never really looked at. I had thought

Jul 16, R/S within a shield, stamped in older Masonic ring

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:29:25 -0400

Come watson the game is a foot! I have a good one here, it is a 10K gold masonic ring with an unusually large synthetic ruby and an art deco scroll to

Jul 13, Gold Signet Ring - Expert Required

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:13:24 -0400

I have a family signet ring that has been handed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately over the years its history has been lost. I have taken

Jul 12, Hallmark Holmes Gives the Verdict on Family Lore

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:58:17 -0400

Come for the Hallmarks. Stay for the Verdicts. Bookmark the site, because no one else is telling the truth like we tell it, from the bench in Luxor

Myths vs Marks: When Family Lore Meets Hallmarks

The Bench Verdict: NO. This is 9ct Gold, Birmingham 1991, not 22ct and not "generations".

The crest is older, but the ring was re-made in 1991. The marks don't lie - Anchor + t + 375 + THB.

Read the full discussion and comments →

Jul 9, confused by Hallmarks - W.E.G ? DATE LETTER R ?

Thu, 9 Jul 2026 10:19:01 -0400

I have a gold ring with the following inside : W.E.G then a CROWN then number 18 then a left hand side anchor then the letter R. I cannot find a gold

Jul 8, Sweet Revenge:The 51st Minute at Azteca

Wed, 8 Jul 2026 03:57:54 -0400

by Yvonne & The Sphinx
Estadio Azteca floodlights 1986, where Maradona scored the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century Some moments get stamped into history. Like silver. Permanent. Impossible to polish out. June 22, 1986. Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. Quarter-finals. England vs Argentina. 4 years after the Falklands. 90,000 people in the stands. And 300 million more watching. 51st minute. A cross comes in. A little man in sky-blue jumps. His fist meets the ball before the goalkeeper’s gloves do. The referee points to the center circle. Goal. "The Hand of God," Maradona would call it later. England called it something else. 4 minutes later. Same man. Same pitch. Different god. He picks the ball up in his own half. He runs. Past one. Past two. Past five England shirts. He rounds Shilton and slides it in. "The Goal of the Century." 2-1. Game over. Argentina march on. They win the World Cup. England go home. That’s Sweet Revenge. Not polite. Not quiet. Not forgotten. It’s the kind that gets hallmarked by time, with the date, the stadium, and the initials of the man who did it. Jewellers talk about hallmarks 24/7. Date letter. Maker’s mark. Assay office. We look for proof that something was real, that it happened, that it mattered. Azteca '86 has a hallmark too.

Maker: Maradona

Office: Mexico City

Date: 1986

Metal: Pure, uncut revenge.

You can argue the ethics. You can argue the handball. But you can’t argue the stamp. It’s there. Forever. Some revenge is served in a glass of Karkadeh. Tart. Slow. Healing. Other revenge is served in 90 minutes, under floodlights, with the whole world watching. Both leave a mark. And 40 years later, when England step back onto that same Azteca turf, the old hallmark catches the light. A reminder: history remembers.

Jul 7, Webster Inside Ring - Question from Western Australia Prospector

Tue, 7 Jul 2026 10:54:13 -0400

Hi my name is John I am a prospector living in Western Australia, on a recent trip to the Victorian gold fields i found this ring as per pics; the only

Jul 7, Gold Platter stamped Viceroy

Tue, 7 Jul 2026 07:36:59 -0400

Own jewelry shop in Atlanta area purchased pictured platter from a clients estate. Scratch tested on several places did not hold 14k acid but held 10k

Jul 7, Silver Cross Prima

Tue, 7 Jul 2026 01:41:19 -0400

Hi i have a silver cross and on the back is what appears to be a V going over a M inside a circle and under the stamp is the word PRIMA...does anybody

Jul 6, Bracelet with a bat and 18k markings

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 16:47:28 -0400

I have an 18k bracelet with a 1906 liberty coin attached and is hallmarked with an open winged bat. I have tried looking for an answer on the internet

Jul 6, What does the JTC 969 mean on my ring?

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 16:23:56 -0400

What does the JTC 969 mean on my ring? The ring also has a very unusual cut ruby. want to sell it but not solid about the value of it.

Jul 5, Gold lady bust and head statue.

Sun, 5 Jul 2026 11:17:34 -0400

Hi there, I have a little gold figure that only has the mark E.J in a circle. She is naked and has her hair up. And it's only her head and bust. It stands

Jul 5, Yvonne Hammouda-Eyre News : Notes from the Bench

Sun, 5 Jul 2026 01:35:04 -0400

Notes from the workshop. A jewelry hallmark, a piece with two stories, or a thought from the bench. Join the newsletter when it feels right.

Jul 3, s.h &co 18ct plat 32 pat 202580

Fri, 3 Jul 2026 11:31:57 -0400

what does this mean, please in type of metal and purity? These are the markings: s.h &co 18ct plat 32 pat 202580

Jul 3, Rolex Style Bracelet - 18K Italy

Fri, 3 Jul 2026 06:37:04 -0400

and a hallmark on the clasp of this rolex style bracelet? Any idea about the Hallmark?

Jul 2, Vintage Gold Watch - was Anchor only used by Birmingham Assay Office?

Thu, 2 Jul 2026 05:09:42 -0400

Looking at my grandfather's gold watch, it has an anchor hallmark. Can you confirm that the anchor mark was only ever used by the Birmingham Assay Office

Jul 2, OB gold ring with 3 crowns and a C

Thu, 2 Jul 2026 01:03:15 -0400

Hi there. I have a vintage gold ring that is stamped either 0B or OB then 3 crowns then a C What does this mean?

Jul 1, Metal Detecting Buried Now Found

Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:07:46 -0400

Russian Silver coins signet ring buried in a box

Jul 1, Two tone 14k link bracelet

Wed, 1 Jul 2026 05:15:47 -0400

I have a two tone gold and silver link bracelet. On one side it says Italy 14K. On the other side it has a 'Star' stamp and 1780 AR. Any info would be

Jun 30, Golden Dagger Letter Opener with Snake?

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:11:38 -0400

I can not find any hallmarks on this gold dagger letter opener. Do you see anything about this dagger that may help in identifying its age, maker marks,

Jun 29, BB on 10k Ring

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:28:25 -0400

Ring that has 10k then either EB or BB w/the B's back-to-back

Jun 29, VIP on gold ring

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:22:29 -0400

what does this mark mean?

Jun 28, "L" on silver Flower Bracelet

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:11:05 -0400

Stamped 925, looks more like a nike symbol it has diamond like stones through out. It is also stamped Italy.

Jun 28, P inside Pear Antique Ring Hallmarks

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:36:05 -0400

I have an old antique ring from my great-grandmother that has an engraved pear (with the letter P inside the pear). Is there anyway to tell who made the

Jun 28, Gold Bracelet with hallmarks gb 9.375

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:48:59 -0400

hi i have a gold padlock bracelet stamped GB.9.375 and then a pic of a crown, the links also have stamps on them but can not see what it says.

Jun 28, I have a gold bracelet

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:11:31 -0400

I have a gold bracelet . On one side it says 750 On the other *1589 VI What does *1589 VI mean ? Thanks.

Jun 28, Heavy Gold Bracelet marked CH?

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 07:00:03 -0400

I have a big heavy gold bracelet marked 14kt CH. What does the C H stand for?

Jun 28, P18k and CA for makers mark

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:40:24 -0400

Is this plumb gold or plated?

Jun 28, swedish 23k yellow gold ring with 3 red ruby

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:22:04 -0400

Hi The ring has 5 stamps. 3 crowns? and the letters FH and the letter W and L5 and 23k Can you help me plz

Jun 28, Cuff Bracelet -What do these numbers and letters signify 1 2 9 V I ?

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 03:06:55 -0400

I have a cuff bracelet that is stumping me. On either side of the opening it has the same symbols. One of them is 750, which is stamped inside of a lozenge.

Jun 27, ACCo and funny m year mark

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 08:51:23 -0400

Hello, I have a ladies wedding ring which I am trying to find some information on. So far I have managed to determine it's English, 22 carat and has

Jun 27, Ma stamped on chain

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:25:22 -0400

I have a light colored gold chain with .925 stamped on the sides of clasp and Ma stamped on lobster clasp. Can you tell me anything about it who made

Jun 27, Hallmark on Wedding ring from 1914

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:16:07 -0400

Please identify the Hallmarks on the ring in the attached photo.