Duty Marks

by Karen
(Brisbane)

Last year I purchased a gold bangle with 1863 Birmingham hallmarks. Recently I was advised that the bangle is more likely to be a 1913 bangle. The appraiser made the following comment "Actual Hallmark date is 1913/4 (Common error due to Birmingham retaining the Square cartouche for gold items after 1899) Indicators: No duty mark,lowercase 'o', style of product and construction.

However, the vendor of the bangle states that he has been in the jewellry business for 30 years and is emphatic that it is an 1863 bangle. He says that not having a duty mark is common, tben though the item dates to the duty mark years.

Would you have a look at the hallmark and give me your opinion - 1863 or 1913?