What is the difference between a fob and an albert?

An albert is the watch chain worn across a waistcoat, while the fob is the decorative pendant or medal suspended from that chain. Fobs were often added as presentation pieces or personal adornments, whereas the albert served as the primary carrier for the pocket watch.

How do I know my fob is sterling silver?

British pieces typically feature a series of hallmarks stamped directly into the metal, including a lion passant indicating sterling standard. Regional assay marks and date letters nearby confirm the exact office and year of creation for the item.

What were watch fobs originally used for?

Watch fobs served as decorative counterweights and personal statements, often displaying membership in sports clubs, military units, or fraternal organisations. Some fobs doubled as functional wax seals for correspondence, pressing a personal crest into molten sealing wax.

Can I wear an antique silver fob as a necklace?

Many collectors adapt antique watch chains and fobs to be worn around the neck as necklaces using the existing dog clips and rings. The substantial links and secure fastenings of Victorian and Edwardian albert chains lend themselves well to modern jewellery wear.