What is a hallmark?
A hallmark consists of a series of symbols which are stamped or lasered onto an item of jewellery to confirm it is the precious metal stated. There are four Assay Offices in the UK which carry out this process - Edinburgh, London, Birmingham and Sheffield. These offices will test the metal and once verified will then apply the hallmark. The hallmark will consist of three compulsory symbols including: the Maker's Mark, Metal and Fineness Mark and the Assay Office Mark.
Hallmarking Exemptions
Precious metals under a certain weight are exempt from hallmarking. The exemption weights are -
Sterling Silver 7.78g, Gold 1g, Palladium 1g and Platinum 0.5g.
There is a legal requirement for precious metal above these weights to be hallmarked.
When jewellery is sent off to be hallmarked there is a cost incurred which is why most jewellers only send items of jewellery above the weight exemptions to keep the costs lower for their customers.
Why is a hallmark important?
A hallmark is a guarantee that your jewellery has been tested and meets the legal UK requirements for precious metals.
It is important to mention that precious metals are rarely used in their purest form. This can be for a number of reasons including durability and strength. For example, the Fineness Mark for Silver is 925. This means that out of 1000 parts only 925 is pure silver and the remaining 75 parts consists of other alloys. These other alloys are often used to make the material more durable.
I am registered with the Edinburgh Assay Office. All of my jewellery above the exemption weights will be sent to this office to be hallmarked. I will also include this information on the individual product listings. Any items under the exemption weights will not be hallmarked.
