What is a Hallmark?

A hallmark is a series of symbols stamped onto your item of jewellery. These are usually a Makers Mark, Precious Metal Mark & The Assay Office Mark. There are four Assay Offices in the UK that can carry out this process, they will test each individual item a jeweller sends for hallmarking. Then hallmark them, traditionally done with a punch & hammer but now more commonly used, a laser.

Why is a Hallmark important?

It is very rare precious metals (silver, gold, palladium & platinum) are used in their purest form. They are mixed with alloys to create desired colour, durability & strength. Having a hallmark means your jewellery has been tested and it meets the legal UK requirements. For example Silver's hallmark is 925 this means that out of 1000, there 925 parts silver & 75 parts alloys. A hallmark is a guarantee.

Exceptions

Exemption weights apply: 7.78gm - silver, 1gm - gold and palladium, 0.5gm - platinum.

My Promise

I am registered with Birmingham Assay Office & all of my jewellery over the exemption weight will be sent to them & hallmarked. In doing this I am following the Hallmarking Act 1973. My jewellery that is in the exemption weight will not be hallmarked.