Vintage 1965 Silver Gilt STC 15 Year Service Badge Boxed Saunders Shepherd XV For Sale

RARE VINTAGE 1965 STC (STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES LTD) 15-YEAR LONG SERVICE BADGE – SOLID STERLING SILVER-GILT (VERMEIL) BY SAUNDERS & SHEPHERD – PRISTINE BOXED CONDITIONAn exceptional piece of British industrial and horological heritage. This is an authentic 15-year employee long service milestone badge awarded by the historic telecommunications giant Standard Telephones and Cables (STC).Assayed in London in 1965, this premium badge remains in immaculate, time-capsule condition, preserved entirely within its original vintage blue hardshell presentation box. Unlike base-metal tokens, this high-end corporate award is crafted from solid sterling silver with a rich, molecularly bonded layer of gold plating over the top (silver-gilt / vermeil).📐 Item Specifications & MetricsMaterial: Solid Sterling Silver (.925 Purity) with Gold-Gilt finishWeight: 4.25 gramsDimensions: 23mm x 15mmMilestone: 15 Years of Dedicated Service (Denoted by "XV" on the lower scroll)Fixing: Original pin backing with a functional vintage rollover safety claspCondition: Pristine. The gold layer shows zero wear or thinning. The striking details of the figure holding the globe are entirely crisp and unblemished.🔍 Official Hallmarks & Maker's IdentificationThe reverse of the badge features a complete suite of crisp, deeply struck British hallmarks:The Lion Passant: Certifying the legal standard for solid .925 sterling silver.The Leopard’s Head: The historic town mark for the London Assay Office.The Date Letter: A stylized, italic lowercase "k" in a matching shield, officially dating the piece to 1965.The Maker's Mark: Stamped inside a distinctive four-lobed clover (trefoil) border featuring "CS" over "RS". This represents Cornelius Saunders & Richard Shepherd, family leaders of the famous luxury manufacturing jewelers Saunders & Shepherd Ltd. of London.🏛️ Historical ContextThe Maker: Founded in 1869, Saunders & Shepherd were renowned for high-quality luxury items, watchcases, and gold lockets. They were selected by major British firms to produce their premium precious-metal employee awards.The Company: STC (Standard Telephones and Cables) was an empire of British technological innovation, driving advancements in trans-Atlantic telephone cables, early radar systems, and military telecommunications across major UK industrial hubs like Woolwich and New Southgate.Shipping: Will be securely packaged and sent via Simple Delivery, fully tracked/insured postage to guarantee safe arrival.Please see the detailed macro photos to inspect the stunning quality of this investment-grade collectible.