What’s Hidden in Your Jewelry? Check the Stamps!
Many fine jewelry items have small, hidden stamps. They tell a story — about where the piece comes from, what it’s made of, and who crafted it. They guarantee its authenticity and confirm whether it meets quality standards.
Let’s take a closer look.
The «J» – Your Guarantee of Quality and Authenticity
At Sylvsmidja, every piece of jewelry carries our unique J-stamp — a symbol of tradition, quality, and trust. But what’s the story behind this tiny mark?
The “J” in our stamp stands for Leif Johannessen, the master goldsmith who founded Sylvsmidja in 1940. This is our responsibility mark – a lasting promise of quality and authenticity that lives on through his legacy.
Sylvsmidja’s hallmark: The letter J, shaped like a traditional Norwegian drinking horn — a subtle nod to history, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage.
The Meaning of Jewelry Stamps
A responsibility mark is a unique stamp that identifies the registered maker or importer of the jewelry. It shows who is responsible for ensuring the metal’s authenticity and stated purity.
It is usually placed next to the fineness mark — also known as the purity mark — which indicates the precious metal content of the jewelry. It tells you how much of the metal is pure silver, gold, or platinum.
On silver jewelry from Sylvsmidja, you’ll typically see either “830” or “925” — meaning the piece contains 83% or 92.5% pure silver, with “925” being sterling silver. For gold, the mark “585” shows that the jewelry is made of 14 karat gold, or 58.5% pure gold.
Together, the responsibility mark and the fineness mark form an official stamp of authenticity and metal purity, often referred to as a hallmark.
See our silver and gold jewelry collections
In most European countries, including Norway, hallmarks are legally required and controlled by official authorities.
In the U.S., however, these stamps are recommended but not required.
Why Jewelry Stamps Matter
Since jewelry marking in the U.S. isn’t mandatory, it’s especially important to check product information carefully to ensure authenticity and quality — and to avoid paying for something that isn’t what it claims to be.
When you see the «J», you know you’re holding a piece of jewelry crafted with care, tradition, and trust — made by Sylvsmidja in Voss, Norway.
