Antique jewelry glossary

Welcome to our extensive antique jewelry glossary with around 1,500 jewelry related entries.If you feel you are missing an explanation, feel free to let us know and we will add it.

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Duty dodger

Silversmiths who made a small silver plate and gave it in to be hallmarked where they paid for the mark according to the weight of the piece (as is the case still today). These plates (the actual "duty dodger") could then be used as a base for a much heavier piece. It doesn't necessarily question the integrity of the rest of the object or its content.