The Encyclopedia · Metals & marks
Dog’s head mark
The French mark for platinum, introduced in 1912.
France introduced a hallmark for platinum in 1912: the head of a dog. It appears on the platinum jewels of the Belle Époque and Art Deco periods, often alongside the eagle’s head when a piece combines platinum and gold.
What to look for
On a French platinum jewel from after 1912, the dog’s head confirms the metal. Its presence beside a maker’s mark is a good sign of French manufacture.
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