Designer marks
Uncas jewelry mark
Uncas jewelry mark includes impressed “Sorrento Sterling” on sterling silver. Uncas Manufacturing Co. was active from 1911.
- Active years
- From 1911
- Country
- United States
- City / region
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Products
- rings, sterling silver jewelry, gold-filled jewelry, costume jewelry, licensed accessories, jewelry
- Marks
- 20
Founded 1911; later Uncas International continues the business. Historical Providence location applies to the collected marks.
What to look for
- Find the U and arrow inside a ring shank or beside the metal stamp. Compare whether one arrow crosses the U or two point toward it; preserve that distinction in the mark description.
- Read SORRENTO, CRYSTOGEM and other line names in full. A Sorrento mark belongs to the Uncas family and does not mean the piece was made in the Italian town.
- Keep first-use, registration and object dates separate. The Sorrento registration record declares first use in 1951 but was filed in 1966 and registered in 1967.
Marks & lettering
20 marks
From 1920
U
The U-with-arrow version is described as used from 1920 through at least 1988.
Mark: “ ” with arrow — through at least 1988 ; Photo courtesy Lilly Vittetow.
Undated
CC
The CC-in-ball-on-hand Curtman mark is listed with 1950.
Mark: in ball on hand — 1950 (Curtman) Courtesy RCJ Courtesy ID: fynderskeepers
Undated
mark drawing
mark drawing · Providence RI, United States
Uncas trade-name compilation.
About Uncas Manufacturing Co.
Vincent Sorrentino established a ring-making business in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1911. It became Uncas Manufacturing Company and grew into a major American producer of affordable rings. The company worked in precious and base metals, making sterling silver, gold-filled and costume jewelry. Its many trade names included Crystogem, Kiddiegem, Stylecraft, Sorrento and Corsini.
Rings remained central to the business for much of the twentieth century. The Sorrento line included sterling and gold-filled pieces, while other names served different styles and markets. The U-and-arrow device identified Uncas alongside these word marks. A material stamp such as STERLING or 1/20 12K G.F. describes the metal construction and may sit beside the maker or line name.
From the 1970s Uncas broadened into earrings, pendants, bracelets and other accessories. John Corsini acquired the business in 1991 after working there for many years. The purchase of Vargas Manufacturing in 1998 brought additional production facilities. The later Uncas International business expanded global sourcing and licensed accessories while retaining a history rooted in the Providence jewelry industry.
Also known as: Vincent Sorrentino Ring Company · Uncas International · Sorrento · Crystogem · Kiddiegem · Corsini Collection · Uncas Manufacturing Company · Uncas · UNCAS · Uncas Mfg. Co.
Look-alikes & how to tell them apart
Generic U stamps and arrow devices
A faint arrow or an isolated U can resemble other small jewelry stamps.
Look for the complete U-and-arrow arrangement and any Uncas trade name. Do not identify a single worn letter without comparing the full device.
Italian jewelry marked Sorrento or with place names
SORRENTO resembles a geographical origin mark.
Uncas Sorrento is a Rhode Island jewelry brand. Compare the script word mark and adjoining STERLING or gold-filled text; Italian assay and maker numbers provide a different marking system.