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Current Hallmarks UK Hallmarking Act Current hallmarking requirements come under the UK Hallmarking Act 1973 and subsequent amendments. The Act is built around the principle of description, where it is an offence for any person to apply to an unhallmarked article a description indicating that it is wholly or partly made of gold, silver or platinum. There is an exemption by weight: compulsory hallmarks are not needed on gold under 1g, silver under 7.78g and platinum under 0.5g. Also, some descriptions are permissible, such as rolled gold and gold plate. The four assay offices at London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh operate under the Act. Breaches of the Act carry stiff sentences (up to 10 years' imprisonment). The following are extracts from the above Act: Dealers shall keep exhibited at all times, in a conspicuous position in a part of their premises to which those with whom they deal are commonly admitted, a notice in terms approved and in a form supplied by the Council describing such approved hallmarks and including such explanatory matter as the Council think fit; and it shall be an offence for any dealer to fail to exhibit or keep exhibited a notice required to be exhibited under this subsection. ‘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 STATUTORY NOTICE WHICH DEALERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISPLAY ON THEIR PREMISES (DESCRIBING THE UK LEGAL HALLMARKS) IS REFERENCED DN2 The notice is sized 14¼ inches by 11 inches, permanently lacquer finished and suitable for hanging or standing. Cost: £10 each (including package, postage and VAT) Not for re-sale © British Hallmarking Council To Download an Application for the Notice DN2 click here  Minimum Legal Hallmark Since 1999, a minimum hallmark comprises:  (i) A sponsor's mark (see Getting Something Hallmarked: Sponsor's Mark) (ii) A millesimal fineness mark. This is the number of parts per thousand of pure metal in the alloy. The current finenesses allowed in the UK are shown here.
(iii) An assay office mark
Normal UK marks provided by Assay Office London
Convention Marks The United Kingdom has been a signatory to the International Convention on Hallmarks since 1972. This means that UK Assay Offices can strike the Convention Hallmark which will then be recognised by all member countries in the International Convention. Conversely, Convention Hallmarks from other member countries are legally recognised in the UK. Articles bearing the Convention Hallmarks do not have to be re-hallmarked in the UK.
The Assay Office Marks of member countries of the Convention are illustrated below. The shield design around the Assay Office Mark sometimes varies according to whether the article is gold, silver or platinum. The key mark to look for is the Common Control Mark. The three other marks must also be present.
Not all UK finenesses are represented in the convention but many are common and the CCM is often added to a UK hallmark. Guidelines to European National Hallmarks Since 1st January 1999, following a ruling of the European Court of Justice, the UK is required to accept (and not re-hallmark) other European national hallmarks which provide an equivalent guarantee to consumers. It is the opinion of the British Hallmarking Council that such hallmarks must contain a Sponsor's or Maker's Mark, a Fineness (Purity) Mark and an Assay Office Mark. For example
The complete Hallmark must guarantee that the purity of the metal is at least that indicated by the Fineness Number. Some European national Hallmarks incorporate the Fineness (Purity) Mark in the Assay Office Mark. For example:
Using these criteria the national hallmarks of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Switzerland, without the Common Control Mark, are acceptable in the UK. Note: This information is advisory only, and is based on information available on 30 September 2004. It is subject to change. Some European hallmarking countries are not members of the International Convention. Spain has a dual system of Assay Office hallmarking and licenced manufacturers' marking. The only Spanish hallmarks which conform to the British Hallmarking Council criteria are:
In the opinion of the British Hallmarking Council, the national law of Belgium does not presently provide an equivalent guarantee. Some European hallmarking countries are in the process of amending national laws, in the light of the European Court of Justice ruling. Consequently, the list of acceptable Assay Office Marks is likely to be extended. Italy, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg do not have independent systems of guarantee. Articles from these countries must be hallmarked in the UK or Convention hallmarked in one of the Convention countries. National hallmarks of countries outside the European Economic Area are not legal in the UK. Articles from these countries must be hallmarked in the UK or Convention hallmarked in one of the Convention countries.
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