130. Giraffe head hallmark facing left surrounded by a listel.

Giraffe head hallmark facing left surrounded by a listel. Recall hallmark of 1838 for large objects in gold and silver. Paris.

The information on the giraffe head hallmark facing left and the other hallmark illustrations on this site 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 the 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 guarantee offices, are included in this book. You can thus, and for the first time, 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 recall hallmark?

During the introduction of new hallmarks, often following the theft of hallmarks or the discovery of false hallmarks, a recall is decreed to check the hallmarks on existing jewellery held by professionals. Here are the instructions that were given to the hallmark offices in 1838:

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

As for gold and silver objects that bear hallmarks other than these hallmarks, and works whose marks, altered by use or by the lack of care taken in polishing, can no longer be determined, they will not receive the recall hallmarks; one applies to them new hallmarks; they will therefore be subject to testing 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 hallmarks.

As far as possible, and to facilitate subsequent verifications, the recall mark must be applied alongside the old hallmarks 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 recall to works owned by simple individuals, neither to those which will be found on deposit at the Mont-de-Piété (pawnbrokers).

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 !