Vintage Two Tone Tiffany Piece w/o Gold Mark

Tiffany sterling and gold bracelet, probably from the 1980's or 1990's, marked T&Co 925 ITALY. The piece has applied heavy gold accents that are tested as 14k by XRF. I've seen other Tiffany two tone made in Italy pieces without a gold mark. Is there anyone with knowledge of Tiffany's marking practices that can explain the reason for the lack of a gold mark?


Maybe since the marks are on the sterling silver clasp, which was used in other all-silver pieces, additional gold marks weren't included? Or maybe in Italy, pure gold is 18 karat, so a 14k gold content didn't require being marked?


Any thoughts about this are appreciated.

 

I can't tell if this is the same style bracelet since you only show part of yours, but here is one that looks similar from what I can see. Did you also test for 18K on the gold section?

No idea if this bracelet or information in the link is authentic, just linking as it sounds like it is marked in the same way. Seems to have the same clasp and markings.

https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/bra...8k-yellow-gold-sterling-silver/id-j_13835962/

 

Here's one from Poshmark. The T&Co stamp is not in the quality I would expect from Tiffany.

https://poshmark.com/listing/Tiffan...MIp57pofPu9wIVlgytBh0RUgGsEAQYAiABEgKsJfD_BwE

Debora

 

Deboras' link looks like the same photo

 

Could it be gold-plated sterling, or does the XRF testing device remove all doubt?

 

XRF is an authoritative source, and jeweler confirms that the gold is not plating.

 

Stamp is less precise than US made Tiffany pieces but there is also some wear due to age.

 

Same bracelet and there are necklaces as well, all with the same stamp and authenticated. Question is why Tiffany didn't always mark the pieces made in Italy with the gold stamp if they were 14k and not 18k.

 

Fakes abound. Be very careful.

 

Are the gold pieces soldered to the silver parts?

 

Lynn, could we see the marks please?

Italy's legally recognised and officially marked gold finenesses range from 8k on. Gold doesn't have to be marked if it weighs less than one gram, which could be the case here, although it looks like it could be a little more.
18k isn't pure gold btw, 24k is.

 

Thank you, this is an authenticated piece. I think Any Jewelry hit on the answer.

 

Thank you for the insight on weight as a criterion for marking of the gold. These Tiffany pieces are among the earlier two tone styles made in Italy, so that makes sense. The typical Italian gold standard for jewelry was 18 karat (hence "pure gold" from a jewelry buyer's standpoint), but Italy made a number of two tone pieces in silver and 14k for Tiffany. Appreciate your expertise!

 

Unless Tiffany themselves say so, or you've full provenance, they aren't authenticated.

 

There was no answer to my question in post #10. In the USA if made before 2000 they would be considered 1 piece and if assayed for content it would be below 10K and not permitted to be marked as gold. I don't know what the Italian laws were at the time,but was probably the same as USA laws.

 

Sorry for the delayed reply! I was out pulling poison ivy from a pachysandra bed, a very involved process! Thank you for your insight. Yes, the gold is affixed to the outside of the silver connectors. You make a good point, which is that the connectors with the gold and silver components may be viewed as single pieces, in which case the silver content exceeds the gold and thus no stamp is made.

 

Authenticated by whom? (Just wondering.)

 

Hi and thank you for your interest. I am comfortable with the authenticity of the piece. Here are some examples of the same piece(s) from other sites. They are uncommon and probably date from the 1980's. If you have insight into Tiffany's marking practices for its earlier two tone pieces, I am interested.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/29318612_tiffany-and-co-sterling-silver-bracelet-and-necklace
https://www.therealreal.com/product...iffany-co-two-tone-multistrand-bracelet-bmd8n

 

Yes, the gold is attached in such a way that it is a part of the silver pieces. Here are examples of these pieces from other sites.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/29318612_tiffany-and-co-sterling-silver-bracelet-and-necklace
https://www.therealreal.com/product...iffany-co-two-tone-multistrand-bracelet-bmd8n

 

" I am comfortable with the authenticity of the piece."

Now, that's not an answer, to a legit question !

We're all here to learn....but making a statement about the authenticity of an item in question,,,,,without backing it up.......leaves the assertion in doubt.
imo