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In Britain, or England and the British Isles, the use of 15k (usually marked 15ct) was utilized for a number of years.  From the year 1854 to 1931, you may find gold jewelry testing at or hallmarked with either 15ct or 625.    In the US, most of us are more familiar with 14k, but some countries, including Britain, used 15k instead. After 1931, the standard for 15k changed to 14k. Those pieces test, or are hallmarked 585 or 14.  This means that the gold content is a little higher, and the presence of alloys such as copper or zinc...

Clues to dating! When you find an English hallmark of 12k gold you have a pointer about dating that piece of antique jewelry. In the British Isles, this standard was only in use from the years spanning 1854 until 1932.   (Our photo above is of the inside of the shank of an antique English ring. This is an example of the hallmarks that might be found on a piece of gold jewelry. This ring was made in the year 1868, made in Birmingham, from 12k gold. )   After that, it was eliminated entirely. Still in use were 9k...

Sometimes I look back and it seems only a few years have gone by. Then shifting my perspective, I discern that ages ago I was sitting in my cracker box apartment wondering where in the world to turn.  In summary, I shared my life with three hefty rescue dogs, had not much money, ok was virtually broke, had no job, and was in the wake of a failed relationship. To put a fine point on it, I was at an inky dark low. So much for swimming upstream. Life was so bleak, that only something drastic and fanciful made sense....

It is hard to know what to do in a world where all of us have constant access to the plights, horrors, joys, and sorrows of so many around the world. The Three Graces is a business that supports my family and others connecting to us. Getting involved politically in a public way is not why we are here or our purpose. However, it is impossible to ignore the humanitarian crisis of those families, children, mothers, and relatives of those fleeing war. It is not a political matter, but a human concern. As such, donations are going out to several...