All About Hallmarking
What is a Hallmark?
A hallmark:
- Consists of a series of marks applied to articles of the precious metals platinum, gold, palladium and silver
- Means that the article has been independently tested
- Guarantees that it conforms to all legal standards of purity (fineness)
A complete hallmark consists of three compulsory punch marks:
- Sponsor's (or maker's or manufacturer's or name) mark
- Metal and fineness (purity) mark
- Assay office mark
Assay Office London also applies two optional marks, at no extra cost:
- Date mark
- Traditional fineness mark
Detailed information on current legal hallmarks can be found in the Hallmarking Guidance Notes.
Other marks can be applied including commemorative marks or International Convention marks.
Why Hallmark?
Precious metals are rarely used in their purest form but are usually alloyed with other metals. It isn't possible to detect an article's precious metal content by sight or touch. Therefore, it is a legal requirement to hallmark articles containing precious metals if they are described as such.
The UK Hallmarking Act (1973) states that it is an offence for any person, in the course of trade or business, to describe an un-hallmarked article as being wholly or partly made of precious metal(s) or to supply un-hallmarked articles to which such a description is applied.
Dealers are required to display on their premises the statutory notice which describes the approved hallmarks. It is an offence for any dealer to fail to exhibit or keep exhibited the notice. 'Dealer' means a person engaged in the business of making, supplying, selling (including selling by auction) or exchanging articles of precious metal or in other dealings in such articles. The dealers' notice can be downloaded from here or alternatively a display copy can be purchased for £10 plus P&P.
For further information please contact us.