Global Gemology - Rare Gems & Jewels
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MEXICAN SILVER MARKS

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Mexican jewelry stamp:
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Mexico's jewelry hallmarking system has undergone several changes over the course of history.

In 1946, an Eagle Hallmarking System was implemented.  It was used through 1979, when it was ultimately abandoned due to its inefficiency.

​In 1979, the Eagle system was replaced with a letter/number hallmarking system, which is still used to this day.

Below is a guideline used to date Mexican jewelry pieces.

MEXICAN SILVER MARKS

Picture
1900 - 1920s
Intaglio 900
1920s - 1940s
"Mexico Silver"
​"Silver Made In Mexico"
Mid 1930s - Mid 1940s
Intaglio 980
Intaglio 970
Intaglio 960
Intaglio 940
​Intaglio 925
Intaglio 925 mark dates this vintage brooch to the 1930s - 1940s
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals
1946 - 1955
Eagle (Not Numbered)
1950 - Present
"Sterling"
​Incuse 925
1955 - 1979
Numbered Eagles
Eagle 1 Mexican hallmark
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals
Eagle 1 - Mexico City (City Mark)
Eagle 3 - Taxco (City Mark)
Eagle 16 - Margot de Taxco (Maker's Mark)
1979 - Present
Letter / Number System
Mexican letter/number hallmarking system.  Circa post 1979
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Decoding Letter / Number Marks

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Below is an example of a Mexican hallmark post-1979, that reads "TE-43".

The first letter, T, is the city letter.

The second letter, E, is the first letter of the smith's last name (or company name).

The number after the dash, 43, means this silversmith is the 43rd smith whose last name starts with the letter E, in the city of Taxco, Mexico.


There are literally thousands upon thousands of these marks, most of which are still unidentified.
​
Mexican letter/number hallmarking system.  Signed
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Commonly seen city letters:

T - Taxco
M - Mexico City
G - Guadalajara
​C - Cuernavaca
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • SHOP
  • SERVICES
    • APPRAISALS
    • EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY
    • SELL YOUR JEWELRY
  • GEMOLOGY
    • GEM ENCYCLOPEDIA
    • THE ART OF GEMOLOGY
  • JEWELRY EDUCATION
    • DIAMOND FACTS
    • JEWELER DIRECTORY
    • JEWELRY PERIODS
    • POCKET WATCHES
    • NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY
  • GLOSSARY