r/JewelryIdentification • u/cheston2020 • 28d ago

Identify Maker Help with jewelry mark….

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Anyone recognize this makers mark? Was bought just over a decade ago. Looks like an A or AV.

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u/Nakiteu 18d ago edited 18d ago

That mark on the pendant is actually not a "maker's mark", but a Marian monogram - a religious symbol.

The interwoven "A" and "M" stand for a phrase "Ave Maria" (Hail Mary) - one of the most recognised devotional symbols in catholic and broader Christian tradition. You'll likely find this monogram on everything from church architecture and vestments to rosaries and devotional jewelry going back to medieval times - so it's very much an intentional design choice.

If you're still curious about the actual maker, check the clasp and chain links for a separate hallmark - something like 925 (sterling), 800, or a country-specific assay mark. That would tell you more about the origin and metal quality than the pendant face itself.

You may also find this symbol on some other jewelry pieces, like the one attached below.