"Platinum" Fork - Test Results Are In

[UnderMiner]

I went to a specialist and had the fork tested by a pro. He said it was indeed a platinum hallmark... the "950 in an Upside-Down Shield" is an English hallmark representing 95% platinum... but this is not a platinum fork. By sheer coincidence the French produced a hallmark called the "Obus" or "cannon shell" which looks identical to the English "House" or "Upside-down" shield. This "cannon shell" mark was placed only on exported French silver and the silver purity number (e.g 800, 925, 950, 999) could be stamped anywhere near it. In a horrible coincidence Cartier thought it a good idea to stamp the silver purity number inside the "cannon shell" instead of next to it - resulting in their 95% Silver having a near identical hallmark to English 95% Platinum. So this is, as many have suggested, just a gold plated 95% silver fork. I would not have posted this as "platinum" if I hadn't been so certain, it was a one in a million fluke. I hope you can all forgive me...

Furthermore the "PT" before the 950 is in fact an "R" as I initially thought, and the "M" apparently represents the 5% copper within the silver. The guy said it is worth $40-$50. No $2500 dinner for me anytime soon oh well ^^ ...but I guess a gold and silver fork is still just a bit more fun to eat with than a plastic one.

English Platinum Hallmark (circled in red) and Hallmark in Question:

French Export Silver Hallmark.

 

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[Clay Slayer]

Sorry to hear that...still a GREAT find though! You went with the information you had at hand to start with and it seemed to make sense, same route 99% of us would have taken. Good on you to post the results knowing there are probably a couple of a**clowns that can't wait to say "I told you so..."

 

[mikeraydj]

Still a great find. I remember coming on here and having to tell everyone that my gold diamond ring was later determined to have only CZ's after I did a lot of celebrating. It happens. Sounds like you are a stand up guy to me.

 

[Limitool]

Sorry to hear that guy... And I for one was happy that you were all geeked up about the fork. I would have been also. But you are as stated above a stand up guy for posting the final results even after your bubble was busted. Still a GREAT FIND THOUGH!!! Brad

 

[Carolina Tom]

Good job on getting the item authenticated. Sorry that is was not platinum, but still a nice find. Chin up, good show. GL&HH.

 

[dirtlooter]

the honest person does exactly that, what I saw was a lot of hope for you and a lot of expertise of other members who seem to really know their stuff, glad you shared the results, many were waiting to find out

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Hey it was platinum for a little while! Still a great find, bet no one on here is eating with a silver and gold fork!
Great follow up on it, we all learned something. Thanks!

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Well done. May you soon find platinum 950.
Peace ✌

 

[Army of 1]

Was fun and exciting while it lasted , not the result we were all hoping but a nice find just the same ..cheers Mick

 

[beez0404]

I TOLD YOU SO!!!!! Oh Wait..............I didn't say anything initially since I didn't have a clue. LOL

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Still a very nice find!