Out of the lurkers closet…and, no, I didn’t bail out after the Great
Spam.
Here’s the problem; I fabricate jewelry, both handmade and cast, in both SS
and 14K. I want to be able to stamp my designs with the proper mark but I
know you need to accompany this with a hallmark. What, if any, is the
difference between a trademark/service mark and a hallmark? Do I go
through the US Patent and Trademark Office (who say they have no idea what
a hallmark is - government, go figure) or through a jewelers association?
Any and all help much appreciated; I would dearly love to begin using a
mark and quality stamp to satisfy some of my customers who really like to
see that sort of thing (some people refuse to buy unless the product has a
quality stamp).
TIA,
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Pieces
@schenoweth
Hi Susan,
Here’s the problem; I fabricate jewelry, both handmade and cast, in both SS
and 14K. I want to be able to stamp my designs with the proper mark but I
know you need to accompany this with a hallmark. What, if any, is the
difference between a trademark/service mark and a hallmark? Do I go
through the US Patent and Trademark Office (who say they have no idea what
a hallmark is - government, go figure) or through a jewelers association?
According to current (new since abour 7 years) US law if you quality stamp
a piece of jewelry you MUST accompany the quality stamp with a registered
trademark (jewelers call this a hallmark-a reference to English tradition).
You register your trademark through the Trademarks office. Try the Polygon
web site for more info (I think) through one of the trade organizations. An
interesting point, If you have a sterling piece with a 14k rivet you can
stamp the silver part sterling and the gold part 14k (assuming you stamp
that small), if however the 14k is soldered onto the sterling then you may
only stamp the piece with the lowest quality stamp, ie sterling and may not
mention 14k.
Try a call to Peter Rowe on the rec.craft.jewelry newsgroup - he seems to
know pots of stuff on this kind of thing.
good luck
Charles
Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7
Canada
tel: 403-263-3955
fax: 403-283-9053
Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brain
Hi Susan,
(snipped)
According to current (new since abour 7 years) US law if you quality stamp
a piece of jewelry you MUST accompany the quality stamp with a registered
trademark (jewelers call this a hallmark-a reference to English
tradition).
You register your trademark through the Trademarks office. Try the Polygon
web site for more info (I think) through one of the trade organizations.
An
interesting point, If you have a sterling piece with a 14k rivet you can
stamp the silver part sterling and the gold part 14k (assuming you stamp
that small), if however the 14k is soldered onto the sterling then you may
only stamp the piece with the lowest quality stamp, ie sterling and may
not
mention 14k.
Try a call to Peter Rowe on the rec.craft.jewelry newsgroup - he seems to
know pots of stuff on this kind of thing.
good luck
Charles
Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7
Canada
tel: 403-263-3955
fax: 403-283-9053
Email: brainnet@cadvision.com
Hello, Charles!
I must say, rather belatedly, how much I have gotten from your various
articles; I should have known you would have my answer 
. Many, many
thanks. I rather suspected that the hallmark and trademark were basically
the same but after running into the governmental version of “Huh?”, I was a
bit stymied. I did know about the problems caused by soldering but haven’t
been able to get a clear read on the protocol caused by rivets, so once
again, thanks. I was going to cross-post this to rec.crafts.jewelry and
hope that Peter Rowe would take pity on me (again) but my mail reader and I
are having a slight disagreement and it ate the cc: I was sending…
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Pieces
@schenoweth
Susan of C Gems:
Having experienced exactly the same problems you write about, I'm
going to post a public response in Orchid that I hope will answer your
questions and those others might have.
If you or any others need the address of people who make trademark
stamps, e-mail me. I know of at least one supplier and perhaps I can turn
up others.
Rick Martin, MARTIN DESIGNS
At 06:06 PM 8/28/96 +0000, you wrote:
Susan of C Gems:
Having experienced exactly the same problems you write about, I’m
going to post a public response in Orchid that I hope will answer your
questions and those others might have.
If you or any others need the address of people who make trademark
stamps, e-mail me. I know of at least one supplier and perhaps I can turn
up others.
Rick Martin, MARTIN DESIGNS
Rick,
You may live to regret the kind offer re: trademark stamps ; I seem to
be developing a circle of kind-hearted folks who routinely bail me out of
(usually) self-inflicted jams!
I look forward to any and all clarification on this; many thanks for your
assistance.
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Pieces
@schenoweth
Susan of C Gems wrote:
You may live to regret the kind offer re: trademark stamps ; I seem to
be developing a circle of kind-hearted folks who routinely bail me out of
(usually) self-inflicted jams!
I look forward to any and all clarification on this; many thanks for your
assistance.
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Pieces
To Susan and others who may need a source for trademark stamps:
The one supplier I’m almost certain can help you is Harper Mfg. The latest
address for them I have is 3050 Westwood Dr. B5, Las Vegas, NV 89109. If
they can’t supply what you need, let me know: I have several other tricks
up my short sleeves.
Good luck, Rick
To Susan and others who may need a source for trademark stamps:
The one supplier I’m almost certain can help you is Harper Mfg. The latest
address for them I have is 3050 Westwood Dr. B5, Las Vegas, NV 89109. If
they can’t supply what you need, let me know: I have several other tricks
up my short sleeves.
I broke down last week and ordered a custom stamp from Sparks Steel
Stamps
in New Jersey last week. Tomorrow I will receive on
registering
a trade mark. I am told that registration will cost $250. I’ll let y’all
know what happens in a cuppla days.
Bruce
http://www.knight-hub.com/~manmtndense/bhh3.htm
e-mail: @Bruce_Holmgrain
snail mail: POB 7072, McLean, VA 22106-7972, U.S.A.