010. Hallmark of Liberty’s head to the left in an oval frame.

Poinçon de tête de Liberté à gauche dans un cadre ovale

illustration of the Hallmark of Liberty to the left in an oval frame

Hallmark of Liberty’s head to the left in an oval frame. 1797 recall hallmark for small items in gold and silver. Paris 1797.

The information on the Liberty head hallmark and the other illustrations of hallmarks on this website come from the book Traditional French Jewellery, written by Mike Fieggen, expert in antique jewellery and hallmarks from Osprey Paris. This 300-page book, the definitive reference on French regional jewels and their hallmarks, is available in French and English in our store, on Amazon and at certain bookshops. A complete list of assay office marks, small secret marks in the hallmarks that allow you to identify in which city an object was hallmarked, as well as a list of the closing dates of the hallmark offices, are published in this book for the first time. You can thus locate the origin of the jewels and also date them with more precision.

Book available on this site or visit the site www.bijouxregionaux.fr

What is a hallmark?

During the introduction of new hallmarks, often following the theft of hallmarks or the discovery of false hallmarks, an inventory is decreed to check the hallmarks on existing jewellery among professionals. Here are the instructions given to the offices of guarantee in 1838:

The inventory hallmarkes will be applied free of charge and without title verification on works already legally marked with the inventory hallmark in 1819 or hallmarkes in use from August ¹ , 1819 until May 9, 1838 inclusive.

As for gold and silver objects that bear marks other than those of these hallmarks, and works whose marks, altered by use or by the lack of care taken in polishing, could no longer be appreciated, they must not bear the mark of the census hallmarks; one applies to them that of the new hallmarkes of title; they will therefore be subject to trial and payment of the duty, unless the possessor prefers to break them.

The same will be done, and without prejudice to the proceedings that must be taken in such cases, with regard to objects which are imprinted with false marks.

As far as possible, and to facilitate subsequent verifications, the inventory mark must be applied alongside the old marks and be accompanied by the counter-mark.

Silverware and jewellery for the personal use of manufacturers and merchants should be counted as the works of their trade.

There is no need to extend the inventory to works owned by simple individuals, who are more than those which will exist in deposit at the Mont-de-Piété.

Book The Jewels of the French

Buying and selling antique jewellery.

We are qualified jewellers and expert gemologists, specialists in the purchase of antique jewellery, and we can always pay much more than the smelters. Antique, modern, signed or unsigned jewellery, even broken jewellery, diamonds, coins, banknotes, we buy them all. Every day we sell new and used jewellery at unbeatable prices, we NEED merchandise every day.

Don’t even think about selling your jewellery in auction rooms, or at gold buying pharmacies, the “cowboys” that do so much harm to our profession. Instead, visit real professionals for an honest and clear service of buying gold in Paris. We pay immediately by check or bank transfer, otherwise you can leave your jewellery on consignment for a more attractive price, but not immediately.

We are mainly looking for signed jewellery, but any gold or silver jewellery is welcome, even broken jewellery, even simple wedding rings.
Rolex, Chopard, Blancpain, Breguet, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, de Grisgono, Chaumet, Dinh Van, Dior, Fred, Van Cleef & Arpels, Hermès, Piaget, Boucheron, Pomellato, David Webb, Jaeger le Coultre, Patek Phillipe.

At Osprey Paris you will be dealing with qualified gemologists and numismatists, each with over thirty-five years of experience. You can trust our professionalism and integrity.

Do not hesitate to visit us in our store in the center of Paris where we offer you to appraise your jewellery and watches free of charge and without obligation. Do not be shy !