Silver Bracelet Found at Home Site

[MineEyes92]

Dug this item at a property that's been in use since the early 1900s. It appears to be some sort of bracelet, as it isn't nearly big enough to go around a neck. There is a marking stamped into the clasp that closes the bracelet. It seems to read "008" or "800". I did some research and it seems that number (if it's 800) might indicate this thing is 80% silver. Was wondering what you guys thought. Thanks.

UPDATE: I had this bracelet examined by a jeweler. It is their opinion that this piece is 80% silver and gold plated. Although the 800 mark is not commonly used in the present day, some jewelry made in Mexico uses it, so it's possible this bracelet is not as old as some of the posts in this thread alleged.

 

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[ecmjamsit]

I think 800 silver is called "coin silver".

 

[tamrock]

I believe it's 80% alloy silver. I'm trying to think where it was possibly made. A good find.

 

[pepperj]

Nice recovery on the bracelet

.800 SILVER​

.800 silver is an alloy of silver that is 800 parts silver and 200 parts other metals. It is also referred to as International Coin Silver. This alloy was common in the 19th and early 20th centuries on the European mainland but was not used in jewelry in the United States. 800 silver was the alloy of choice for pieces decorated with niello because it can withstand high firing temperatures better than alloys with a higher silver content.

Silver | Antique Jewelry University

www.langantiques.com

 

[Red-Coat]

I think 800 silver is called "coin silver".

I believe it's 80% alloy silver. I'm trying to think where it was possibly made. A good find.

Before America began to embrace the Sterling stand of 925 fine, “Coin Silver” was a commonly used standard but it was a nominal standard of approximately 900 fine with no particular guarantee that it had been assayed as such. Silver to an 800 fine standard is sometimes referred to as “international Coin Silver” but not generally used for jewellery in the United States. It was however a commonly used standard in Continental Europe by a number of countries… notably Italy and Germany.

I would guess the bracelet is Italian. Prior to 1934 when national marks were standardised, Italian silversmiths rarely submitted their pieces for hallmarking, which was optional. Most usually they’re marked only as ‘800’ for purity and often not accompanied by a maker mark. The ‘800’ mark was unofficial and with no uniformity to shape or format, but inside an oval cartouche is commonly seen.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Nice one !

 

[MineEyes92]

Thanks for all the comments guys! So it sounds like this piece is in fact silver and likely of early 20th century European manufacture. Pretty cool! I initially thought it was something one of the current residents of the house lost.

Before America began to embrace the Sterling stand of 925 fine, “Coin Silver” was a commonly used standard but it was a nominal standard of approximately 900 fine with no particular guarantee that it had been assayed as such. Silver to an 800 fine standard is sometimes referred to as “international Coin Silver” but not generally used for jewellery in the United States. It was however a commonly used standard in Continental Europe by a number of countries… notably Italy and Germany.

I would guess the bracelet is Italian. Prior to 1934 when national marks were standardised, Italian silversmiths rarely submitted their pieces for hallmarking, which was optional. Most usually they’re marked only as ‘800’ for purity and often not accompanied by a maker mark. The ‘800’ mark was unofficial and with no uniformity to shape or format, but inside an oval cartouche is commonly seen.

 

[pepperj]

Before America began to embrace the Sterling stand of 925 fine, “Coin Silver” was a commonly used standard but it was a nominal standard of approximately 900 fine with no particular guarantee that it had been assayed as such. Silver to an 800 fine standard is sometimes referred to as “international Coin Silver” but not generally used for jewellery in the United States. It was however a commonly used standard in Continental Europe by a number of countries… notably Italy and Germany.

I would guess the bracelet is Italian. Prior to 1934 when national marks were standardised, Italian silversmiths rarely submitted their pieces for hallmarking, which was optional. Most usually they’re marked only as ‘800’ for purity and often not accompanied by a maker mark. The ‘800’ mark was unofficial and with no uniformity to shape or format, but inside an oval cartouche is commonly seen.

While buying silver in India the shop owners were quick in pointing out if a piece was coin silver, and the prices would reflect the silver content.
.800/coin silver seemed to be used more for heavy wear items as anklets/armlets, and most seem to have a darker greyish mat finish look to them.

While buying in Celuk Bali the Italian silver buyers would buy 5-10kg of .925 stamped bracelets.
The owner stated that they brought them back to Italy and stamped them Italy. "We make them here for them"

I would like to see another clear photo of the bracelet cleaned up, so we can see the filigree pattern clearer.

 

[oldmxrat]

Congrats on a nice old piece of silver jewelry, very nice!

 

[Lenrac2]

Very cool find! Congrats!

 

[Treasure Hunting NM]

I recently found a ring that was marked 800. It had Arabic writing in it and was I wedding band. Some of the number symbols I recognized because I was in Saudi Arabia and Oman for Desert Shield/Storm and I remember the number symbols from their license plates.
The ring is an earlier ring because it is marked 800 vs .800 which was used later by them to mark their jewelry. At least that's what I got out of the article on my research of the find.

 

[scruggs]

Nice old silver you found!

 

[Digger RJ]

Dug this item at a property that's been in use since the early 1900s. It appears to be some sort of bracelet, as it isn't nearly big enough to go around a neck. There is a marking stamped into the clasp that closes the bracelet. It seems to read "008" or "800". I did some research and it seems that number (if it's 800) might indicate this thing is 80% silver. Was wondering what you guys thought. Thanks.

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[MineEyes92]

While buying silver in India the shop owners were quick in pointing out if a piece was coin silver, and the prices would reflect the silver content.
.800/coin silver seemed to be used more for heavy wear items as anklets/armlets, and most seem to have a darker greyish mat finish look to them.

While buying in Celuk Bali the Italian silver buyers would buy 5-10kg of .925 stamped bracelets.
The owner stated that they brought them back to Italy and stamped them Italy. "We make them here for them"

I would like to see another clear photo of the bracelet cleaned up, so we can see the filigree pattern clearer.

Here are some more pictures of the bracelet after cleaning it up a bit. My apologies for the poor camera quality. It actually looks more gold than silver now that it's cleaned up, but there are some sections of the piece that look more silver colored, as if the original finish has worn away. I'm honestly not sure what to make of it. I'm beginning to worry it might be plated.

 

[Silver Saver]

Here are some more pictures of the bracelet after cleaning it up a bit. My apologies for the poor camera quality. It actually looks more gold than silver now that it's cleaned up, but there are some sections of the piece that look more silver colored, as if the original finish has worn away. I'm honestly not sure what to make of it. I'm beginning to worry it might be plated.

When I seen the first pics I thought it sure came out of the ground looking like silver, and maybe even gold plated. Nice piece of jewelry!