Hallmark Guide
Did you know that according to the Hallmarking Act of 1973 in the UK, all precious metals used for jewellery must be hallmarked?
Over the years, the stamps have changed a bit, but they still need to be marked
with an assay office mark, standard mark, and a sponsors mark.
All those other marks are either outdated or just optional.
Interestingly jewellery items made before 1950 are exempt from this rule.
Sponsors Mark
When it comes to getting a piece hallmarked, the initials of the person or
company presenting it don't necessarily have to be their own.
It's all about who takes responsibility for the piece.
Makers Mark
Back in the olden days, before 1720 to be precise, the concept of identifying the
''manufacturer'' by way of a makers make was very important. After this time it became normal to use monograms or symbols. But then things changed and initials became the new norm.
Date Mark
Back in the day, knowing the year a thing was made used to be useful for figuring out its age. Sometimes it was as simple as looking at the hallmark. But now, it's not always so straightforward. That hallmark could just mean the year it got stamped, no legal obligation involved.
Standard Mark: Carat stamp (375/750/916 etc).
Have you ever noticed those tiny little numbers and letters on your jewellery? They're called carat stamps! They indicate the purity of the metal used in your piece. So if you see a stamp like "18K" or"925", it means that the item is made of 18 carat gold or sterling silver respectively.
Import Mark
From 1904 to 1998, the import mark was an indicator of the city where an item had
been hallmarked but if there was a slight twist in the city's mark this hinted that it had been imported.
Control Mark
The ''convention mark'' that was brought in to keep tabs on the quality of gold being
brought into the UK from other countries. They use a ''minimum'' control mark to stamp the item while it's still in its pre-finished state. Once it meets the UK standard, it can then be hallmarked.
Assay Office Mark
Did you know that there are only 4 assay offices left in the UK?
They are in Birmingham, London, Sheffield, and Edinburgh.
Each of these offices is its own business but they're
all part of the "British Hallmarking Council"
Fun fact - Birmingham is actually the largest and busiest assay office in the world!
In 2015 they moved to a purpose built building to keep doing their exemplary
work which is only the third time they have moved premises. Back in the day, there used to be many more offices all across the UK
- Glasgow, Newcastle, Chester, Dublin, Exeter... to name just a few.
Special Marks
Most recent marks are the Millennium Mark (2000), Queen’s Golden
Jubilee (2002) and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (2012). Other occasionally seen marks are
Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Mark (1953) and Queen’s Jubilee (1977).
Hallmarks Guide
Embrace the charm of the past with the collected hallmarks to guide on your jewelry shopping with us and treasures that are sure to make a statement.