Mexico has been a source of quality silver jewelry imports to the United States for many years, and there is vintage silver jewelry from Mexico available online and in collectibles marketplaces that is from the 1930s and 1940s. There is an abundance of Mexican silver jewelry from the 1970s and 1980s, and new jewelry is currently available. Learning to read the jewelry marks will help identify the maker and history of the jewelry.
Sterling Silver Vintage Mexican Jewelry Marks
Mexican jewelry is often sterling silver, and for years it was marked Mexico Silver or Plata. This marking was used prior to 1960. The eagle mark also identifies the ring, bracelet, earrings or pendant as sterling silver. The eagle mark appeared on Mexican jewelry from about 1955 to 1979. The letter and numbers mark began about 1979, so TC-270 is a newer piece of Taxco jewelry.
The .925 mark on Mexican silver indicates that it is sterling silver by United States standards. That is 92.5 percent silver and 7.75% alloy to make the silver more durable for wear. Some Mexican silver is marked .950, .970 and even .980, all sterling silver, since they are more silver than the United States standards require.
Maker and City Marks on Vintage Silver Jewelry from Mexico
The eagle mark has a number inside the logo. This number is a code for the location of the maker. Number 1 is Mexico City and number 3 is Taxco. On newer jewelry, a number like TC-320 is a Taxco silversmith with the last name beginning with C. The 320 is the 320th person with the TC initial combination, and these individual silversmiths are identifiable. M numbers are for Mexico City in this coding system.
Marks on Jewelry from Mexico not Sterling Silver
Alpaca is not sterling silver jewelry, and is an alloy more like German silver than sterling. Alpaca imports from Mexico are sold as silver to the tourist trade. There is also Mexican jewelry that does not identify the metal, and these are rarely ever sterling silver. Some of this jewelry is silverplate, detectable with a loupe that shows a layer over the base metal on ends or points.
Quality silver jewelry has been available from Mexico for years, and American women have appreciated the artistry of Margot of Taxco and Los Castillo, Antonio Pineda and Hector Aguilar. These pieces of fine jewelry are appearing on the American market, and with the price of silver on the rise, the time may be right to learn about Mexican silver jewelry.
Linda Richard - Writer, proofreader, editor, antiques appraiser specializing in pottery and glass. Author of Retirement Living Guide series.
