Returning a ring that's not hallmarked properly

pandaleah

Pollycat said:

MyRealNameToo said:

Pollycat said:

MyRealNameToo said:

pandaleah said:

Hi. My husband bought me a sterling silver ring from an independent jeweller. It sent my finger blue/grey within 24 hours. The hallmark is just the numbers 925. He went to return it and they would only give a credit note. We went back together and the manager said that low value items don't need proper hallmarks.  It cost £60. Is this correct? Is there any way to get our money back? 

There should be three hallmarks, 925 in a oval, one of the 4 assay office stamps and the sponsor;s stamp (the one that asked it to be assayed) 

but are marked 925 - including items I've bought from India, Indonesia, Europe, New Zealand and Mexico.

You would only get the hallmarks above if the item had been assayed in the UK.

It doesn't mean it isn't silver.

None of my silver turns my skin blue/grey.

925 identifies its 92.5% silver, its a fairly common way of marking Stirling silver around the world. The lion passant, the old UK mark for silver fell out of favour a long time ago. 

The exact marks would be for a UK assayed item but many countries, particularly commonwealth countries have very similar. India has an assay mark, a fineness mark and an ID number - ie very similar but rather than identifying the sponsor its an ID which you can then look up online which tells you who the sponsor was, the result and a description of the item so in principle you can make sure someone isnt incorrectly stamping a ring for an assay done on a candlestick holder. 

None of my silver items (bought from a respected and trusted Indian jeweller that I'd known for at least 15 years) have an ID number.
They are all marked 925 and tested as silver.

I have some Mexican items marked 925 and with a TAXCO reference number to trace back to the maker..

MyRealNameToo said:

Pollycat said:

MyRealNameToo said:

pandaleah said:

Hi. My husband bought me a sterling silver ring from an independent jeweller. It sent my finger blue/grey within 24 hours. The hallmark is just the numbers 925. He went to return it and they would only give a credit note. We went back together and the manager said that low value items don't need proper hallmarks.  It cost £60. Is this correct? Is there any way to get our money back? 

There should be three hallmarks, 925 in a oval, one of the 4 assay office stamps and the sponsor;s stamp (the one that asked it to be assayed) 

but are marked 925 - including items I've bought from India, Indonesia, Europe, New Zealand and Mexico.

You would only get the hallmarks above if the item had been assayed in the UK.

It doesn't mean it isn't silver.

None of my silver turns my skin blue/grey.

If it's marked or not clearly doesnt change what it is but it can change what it can be described as when it's sold. A ring may be light enough not to need any hallmarks but a larger item cannot be sold as silver unless it's appropriately hallmarked as such with some exceptions for old items. 

As the OP says:

pandaleah said:

Hi. My husband bought me a sterling silver ring from an independent jeweller. It sent my finger blue/grey within 24 hours. The hallmark is just the numbers 925. He went to return it and they would only give a credit note. We went back together and the manager said that low value items don't need proper hallmarks.  It cost £60. Is this correct? Is there any way to get our money back? 

it's possible that it was sold as sterling silver.
Maybe the OP can confirm.

Yes, it was sold as sterling silver. 

pandaleah

I think I'm going to accept that a credit note is not too bad an outcome. The hardest thing is going to be going back in there to spend it, my husband won't go in without me now. 

Pollycat

pandaleah said:

I think I'm going to accept that a credit note is not too bad an outcome. The hardest thing is going to be going back in there to spend it, my husband won't go in without me now. 

I agree....