Featured My oldest ring, 1859 Birmingham 9ct band. Idea on maker?

Bought this men's band from the scrapper. The date letter puts it at 1859 making it my oldest gold ring. The ring fits me great and I honestly couldn't be happier with it. Just thinking about how it was going to be melted down makes me cringe. However, I am having trouble finding British maker marks online. The mark on this piece is WM, any ideas?

 

Nice find, spart.
The makers I found were either in other cities, or there is no evidence they manufactured during that period. Some could have worked during that period, and some could have had items marked in another town.

Just in case you want to check, here are lists. Silver makers often made gold jewellery as well.
This one is for Birmingham:
https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Birmingham-WL-WR.html#WM
These are British WM maker's marks:
http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilvermarksXWTRE2.html

 

That is 1934. No duty mark.

 

I first thought 1934 as well, also given the style of the ring. But I checked, and 1934 has a different cartouche.

 

Do not expect cartouches to perfectly match the ideal, this one matches no known shape since it seems assymetrical sideways. All else says 1934, sorry OP, not that old. Some day it may be?

 

I agree, the ring shape and inside wear are not consistent with mid-19th century. And if the cartouche shape is not anything to go by, my vote is back to 1934.

 

The cartouche shape is something to go by and most of the time it is consistent, sometimes the remains of a cartouch are all there is to go on, but if all the other evidence points elsewhere, ignore the cartouche shape.

 

I agree on 1934 too and with AJ's points. Cartouche shape is never conclusive, it's the letter that matters.

 

When I saw this thread for the first time last night, I went down a rabbit hole looking for the answer to the question "Are monarch's head duty marks also required on gold items, not just silver." Couldn't find an answer, but probably because I was already starting to nod off. Glad to see that my suspicions of age were well-founded.

 

I read some time ago that compulsory marking of gold jewellery was a relatively late thing in Britain, but of course I can't find it now.

 

It was weight dependent - under 1g for gold, from memory, was exempt.

Yes, monarch's head goes on gold as well. That 9 and .375 was introduced as standard in 1932.

 

Ah, that was it, thanks.

 

Wow I thought for sure 1859 but didn't know the cartouche shape didn't matter! Thanks guys