Antique and Vintage Jewellery Lecture:

In the world of vintage and antique jewellery, not every piece labelled a 'fake' is without value. This complex field includes high-quality items with misattributed marks, such as authentic Russian silver objects stamped with spurious Fabergé hallmarks. Moreover, style imitation has its own history—consider the late 19th-century tobacco boxes crafted in antique styles and exported to Britain, which have now become collectable in their own right. Some misattributed or stylistically imitative pieces have since gained recognition as collectable objects.

The faking of metals, whether through silver or gold plating or even simple surface colouring, is a widespread practice, often accompanied by counterfeit hallmarks. While plating and surface colouring are legitimate techniques, they are sometimes misused alongside counterfeit hallmarks to deceive buyers. Pieces that make excessive claims about their authenticity should always be viewed with suspicion.

As long as there is demand for genuine precious stones commanding high prices, the production of imitation gems—including synthetic gemstones—will continue. The use of counterfeit stones dates back as far as their natural counterparts. Materials such as Strass, glass, synthetic gems, and semi-precious stones have long been used to replicate the appearance of their natural equivalents.

Another noteworthy practice is 'duty dodging' among silversmiths. This technique, documented in various European countries, involved hallmarking a small silver plate, which was later incorporated into a larger object to circumvent higher taxation.