Charm Makers' Marks

A maker's mark is a stamp of a charm maker's logo or initials found on some charms which identifies who the designer or maker is. Many charms are not stamped with makers' marks or hallmarks, this doesn't mean the charm is not a precious metal necessarily. However, it is always nice to have the peace of mind that a vintage or antique charm is both a genuine precious metal and also stamped by a maker whose range you may be collecting.

Combinations of marks and meanings of the term 'hallmark' vary from country to country but in the UK, for example, a full hallmark comprises a maker's or sponsor's mark, guaranteed metal purity mark, the assay office's mark and a date letter. The latter of which is no longer compulsory.

Following is a directory of makers' marks which will be a work in progress, added to as and when I have time to photograph and research. I hope that this will prove to be a useful reference for charm collectors...

                  
A&Z Hayward | Providence, RI, USA 1975-1977. Walter E. Hayward Company was founded in 1851 in Attleboro, MA; A&Z Chain Company was founded in 1905 in Providence, RI. The two companies merged in 1975. In 1977 Allison Reed Group, who still trade today, bought A&Z Hayward.

Beau | Beaucraft. Providence, RI, USA. Incorporated in 1947 by Luigi Russo. The company closed and everything was put up for auction in 2004. Their charms were bought by Rembrandt Charms. BEAU STERLING surrounding a capital letter B in a circle or stacked, also BEAU STER. It is fairly easy still to find Beau charms on their original display cards, the logo on the later examples of these cards has the letter B as a stylised bow.

BMCo | Breadner Manufacturing Co. Ottawa, Canada. Early 1900s to 1970s. BMCo. sits under STERLING forming an oval, all capitals.

Charles Horner | Halifax, UK 1860s-1984. The recognisable texture, which almost looks like piped icing stars, can be seen on many Charles Horner jewellery and thimble designs. The ten point star, set with various coloured stones and the thistle are possibly the most popular of their charms. The stamp is usually a plain 'CH' in a rectangle, alongside the metal purity mark, the assay office mark and the year of manufacture mark.

                  
CHIM | UK. 1950s-1970s. CHIM in capital letters, within a rectangle.

Elco | USA 1960s. Script Elco or gladiator soldier with STERLING.

Griffith, R L | Providence, RI, USA 1879 until early 1980s. A capital initial G struck through the centre, horizontally, with an arrow. Usually alongside STERLING.

Ivar T. Holth | Oslo, Norway 1943-2007. Founder Ivar Holth died in 1977, from then his son Petter took over the company.

                  
Jezlaine | IL, USA 1975-2003. Script Jez or Jezlaine, with .925 and © copyright stamp.

J.M. Fisher Company | Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA Late 1800s-1950s. The stamp is a sans serif STG JMF, the STG stands for 'sterling'.

MEKA | Denmark 1951-1989. 

Nuvo | Birmingham, UK. 1950s-1970s. Script with underscore, REGD beneath, SILVER often present. Sometimes present is 'RP' – R Platnauer being a Birmingham company who registered the Nuvo trademark.

                  
REU | Pforzheim, Germany 1923-present. Founded by silversmith and enamel artist Fritz REU. Charms can be found in both sterling silver and 800 European silver. Stamp is usually REU, sometimes a circular 'MADE IN GERMANY'.

Sloan & Co., | New York, NY, USA 1895–1980s. Stylised trident, usually alongside metal purity mark.

Spencer Co. | USA 1960s–1980s. S formed by two opposite facing crescent shapes, STERLING.

TLM | Thomas L Mott. Founded in Birmingham in 1875, operated until the 1970s. The two most commonly seen marks are the paint palette and brushes encircling TLM, which gave way to T.L.M. ENGLAND. Some of the flower month charms have an initial M inside a circle made of dots. Usually alongside STERLING. For more information about this maker, see my dedicated blog.

                  
Toby Charms | United Kingdom 1960s-1970s.

Volmer Bahner | Denmark 1962-1988. VB STERLING DENMARK.

Walter Lampl | New York, NY, USA 1921–1959. Script initials WL sit within a shield outline. Often alongside STERLING. For more information about this maker, see my dedicated blog.

Wells, Inc. | Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA 1922-1978. They branded their range of charms ‘Top Hat Sterling Silver Charms’, hence their mark. WELLS STER. sometimes with a top hat and ‘W’.