Vintage Mexican Silver Jewelry Trademarks & Hallmarks

From 1900 to 1948 there were no eagle marks and the marks were more simple and generic- indicating the location and the silver purity- i.e. Taxco 980 to Sterling Mexico.

Some pieces may be marked "Alpaca" or "Alpaca Silver". Alpaca is an alloy of copper, nickel, zinc and sometimes iron. It does not contain any real silver, however, it may be plated with sterling silver. Due to its nickel content, alpaca silver may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.

Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The copper makes the alloy harder and suitable for jewelry making. Sterling silver will retain its shape and resist wear and tear. On most sterling jewelry, the mark is usually '925' or 'sterling'.

Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and usually too soft for pieces that will have a lot of wear. It will not hold its shape and show signs of wear quickly. Silver tarnishes when exposed to air. When not in use, a plastic bag provides the best storage for your sterling silver jewelry. The best cleaning method is a simple rub with a silver polishing cloth- this will maintain an attractive patina on your valued pieces.

Locating Mexican sterling silver and dating it can be an exciting challenge and rewarding. The beautiful hand crafted jewelry is collectible, wearable and valuable...It is Hard to find the high quality pieces signed by well know artist.

Jewelry with hallmarks are often listed as 'signed' as the hallmarks are the silversmith's signature on his or her artwork.

Great bargains on Mexican Sterling Silver Jewelry can be found Taxco, Mexico....often referred to as the silver capital of the world. It is located about 1 1/2 hours drive to the west of Mexico City.

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