3 Sterling Pieces: Necklace, Pin and Ring

A few questions on these pieces, thanks in advance!

I assume the two-sided necklace pendant and bail is sterling, as it is marked on the bail Mexico AVM Metales:
-What did AVM stand for?
-More importantly, is the chain probably sterling also? Could not find any marks on the chain itself. The chain weighs about 5.3 grams and is 24 inches long.

The pin with the Aztec face is marked TAXCO SH Metales.
-What does the SH stand for?
-What materials were used in the mosaic background? Turquoise?

The ring I will probably have to scrap as it appears the band is broken on one side. The inlay is pulling in a bit and one small dot area near the center is bare (I assume that was non-intentional). It is about 3.5 grams.
-Could not find any marks, is it probably sterling?
-Is the ring Native American-made?

 

Metales probably is another word for alpaca or brass, i.e. no silver content. The crushed stone is most likely just that. The resin it's set in has the blue dye, to make it look like turquoise.

 

The chain doesn't look sterling.

I think the ring looks like Zuni, but without a maker, that doesn't mean much (at least on ebay, that is).

 

Lots of Mexican jewelry pieces marked "SH" and "Taxco" on internet but can find nothing about that mark on Google México.

Debora

 

It does have the old #3 eagle mark, it looks like a bell, so it's supposed to be silver, but it also says Metales ... I'd get it tested to see what's going on.

 

The two Mexican pieces are alpaca.
The ring is probably authentic Zuni, but with the current Indian Arts and Crafts Act you can't sell it as such, because it isn't marked. Of course older NA jewellery is seldom marked.
I've said it before, that Act is flawed in so many ways, denying history, no quality control, no hallmark, guild, or provenance mark, so no control if a signed piece is actually NA. They should look at the way the Hopi Arts and Crafts Silvercraft Cooperative Guild organizes things.

 

Thank you everyone, you are the best! Good to know the chain is not sterling, so not much value there. Did some more searching and METALES evidently refers to the mixed metal aspect of the pendant (copper in the face plus some kind of silver or I guess, alloy). But some are saying the AVM Metales items are sterling, which is confusing. Cannot find a site with more info on Mexican marks...I guess either way, not too much value here, huh?

 

What I'm seeing on Google México is gold, silver and platinum are referred to as "metales preciosas" not "metales."

Debora

 

Ah, thanks, good to know.