How to Identify the Date of Your Vintage Jewellery

For lovers of vintage and secondhand jewellery, every hallmark tells a story and one of the most revealing marks is the date letter. While small in size, these letters can uncover the exact year your piece was assayed, providing a reliable clue to its age. Whether you're researching a family heirloom or authenticating a market find, learning to read date letters is a powerful way to date vintage silver and gold jewellery with confidence.

In this guide, I'll break down how to identify date letters correctly, what to look out for, and how hallmarking varies across different countries and assay offices.

What Are Date Letters?

A date letter is one of several symbols stamped into precious metal items by official assay offices. Each letter corresponds to a specific year and is part of a cycle used to identify when a piece was officially tested and hallmarked.

These marks are legally required in countries like the UK and Ireland for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. When used alongside other hallmarks such as the assay office symbol and sponsor’s mark, the date letter becomes a trusted way to determine the age of your jewellery.

Close-up of 9ct gold hallmark for Chester 1906 stamped on locket frame:

How Date Letters Work in the UK and Ireland

The UK and Ireland use a rotating alphabet system, where each calendar year is assigned a different letter. Once the alphabet is complete, a new cycle begins with changes to:

• The letter case (uppercase vs lowercase)
• The font style (serif, sans serif, script)
• The surrounding shield shape

For example:

• A capital “M” in a square might signify 1987
• A lowercase “n” in a chamfered rectangle could point to 1968

Each letter and shield shape combination is unique to its year and specific to the assay office that issued it.

Interpreting the Full Set of Marks

A date letter alone is not enough to confirm the age or origin of a piece. You must also consider:

• The assay office mark (e.g. an anchor for Birmingham, a crowned harp for older Dublin pieces, a leopard’s head for London)
• The sponsor’s mark (initials of the maker or importer)
• The fineness mark (such as 925 for sterling silver or 750 for 18ct gold)

Together, these marks create a complete and legally recognised hallmark. Without all parts, especially the assay office symbol, it’s easy to misidentify a date letter and assume the wrong year.

Assay Offices and Their Date Letters

Each UK and Irish assay office has its own distinct set of date lettering styles and shield shapes:

Ireland follows a similar date system but retains its unique style. For example, the Hibernia mark (seated woman with a harp) confirms the piece was assayed in Dublin, even if the letter looks identical to a UK mark.

Example of a Sheffield Assay Office hallmark:

Beyond the UK and Ireland: Other Countries' Systems

Not all countries use date letters. Here's how hallmarking works elsewhere:

• France: Uses symbols like the Minerva head and a numeric system; no date letters
• Netherlands: Often includes numerals for the year plus marks like the sword or helmet
• Scandinavia: Denmark and Sweden use numeric date stamps with town and maker’s marks
• Russia: Uses Cyrillic letters and numeric years
• USA: No legal hallmarking system, dating often relies on manufacturer stamps or stylistic clues

Some overseas pieces may be reassayed in the UK or Ireland. In these cases, you may see hallmarking from the import year, rather than the original manufacture date.

Common Mistakes When Reading Date Letters

• Assuming a letter always means the same year: Letters repeat with different shapes and fonts.
• Misreading the assay office: Always confirm with the correct symbol (e.g. Hibernia, anchor, leopard’s head).
• Using date letters in isolation: You must read them alongside the full hallmark for accuracy.

How to Use Date Charts Correctly

Reliable charts are essential when identifying a date letter. Be sure to:

• Match the letter to the correct assay office
• Check the shield outline and letter case
• Use a trusted chart, not a random image search

Helpful resources include:

• Silver Makers Marks – UK & Ireland Date Letters
• Assay Office London – Hallmarking Date Letters
• Birmingham Assay Office – Date Letter Charts
• Dublin Assay Office – Hallmarking Explained
• Lang Antiques – Antique Jewellery University

Why Date Letters Matter for Buyers and Collectors

For secondhand and vintage jewellery, especially when there’s no box or receipt, hallmarking offers a trustworthy way to:

• Confirm authenticity
• Determine the year of testing
• Assess potential value or rarity
• Place a piece within a stylistic era (e.g. Edwardian, Art Deco, 1970s)

Collectors often use date letters to track the work of particular makers or understand regional styles especially for Irish, Scottish, or Victorian jewellery.

Final Thought

Learning how to identify date letters isn’t just a technical skill, it’s a gateway into your jewellery’s story. From a crisp serif font stamped in 1930s Birmingham to a delicate “n” from 1960s Dublin, each letter holds clues about the past. When combined with other hallmarks, date letters unlock the hidden timeline of your jewellery giving you insight, confidence, and connection to history.

You might also like:

• How to Read Hallmarks in Vintage and Secondhand Jewellery
• Understanding Dublin Hallmarks: Irish Silver & Gold Jewellery Explained

References

• Silver Makers Marks – UK & Ireland Date Letters
• Assay Office London – Hallmarking Date Letters
• Dublin Assay Office – Hallmarking Explained
• Lang Antiques – Antique Jewellery University

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I identify the year of a jewellery piece from just one letter?
A: No — the shape, font, and assay office symbol must all be considered together. A letter alone is not enough to confirm a date.

Q: Where can I see examples of date letters?
A: Visit Silver Makers Marks for clear year-by-year charts for all major assay offices.