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Getting Something Hallmarked
Registration
The first step in getting something hallmarked is to register
a unique sponsor's mark at an assay office using the Goldsmiths'
Registration Order Form (for Assay Office London). A
sponsor's mark is also known as a maker's mark or manufacturer's
mark.
The sponsor's mark is a combination of at least 2 initials (usually
a shortened form of the manufacturer's name) and a shield design.
Assay Office London offers 45 standard shield designs but
other designs are possible by arrangement.
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Registration costs £47 (inc VAT) and lasts for 10 years. Customers
are contacted automatically when registration is due for renewal.
Punch Ordering
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A punch comprising the sponsor's
mark also needs to be purchased before hallmarking can take
place. These are available in a range of sizes from 6mm high
(size A) to 0.5mm high (size M) but requests for smaller sizes
will be considered. There are straight punches and swan-neck
punches.
The latter are useful for marking the inside of rings. If only
one punch is going to be purchased, it is advisable to purchase
a swan-neck type as these are more versatile. A punch costs
from £70-£100 depending on size and type. The punch
may be sent back to the manufacturer for him or her to strike
their own sponsor's mark prior to sending in articles for hallmarking.
Alternatively, and more usually, the punch is retained by the
Assay Office who apply the sponsor's mark at the same time as
the hallmark for a small additional charge. |
Submission of Articles for Hallmarking
Once registration is complete and a punch
has been purchased, articles can be submitted for hallmarking according
to laid down terms and conditions found on the reverse of the pricelist.
Articles should be grouped into packets with the same fineness. Each
packet should contain a completed hallnote.
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The hallnote must contain:
- Details of the person submitting the goods for invoicing purposes
- The required sponsor's mark to be applied (NB if the person submitting the goods is not the sponsor, then a letter of permission is required from the sponsor)
- An indication of the fineness
- The type of mark required. It must be decided whether the articles are hallmarked with the UK hallmark or the International Convention Mark. The price for either of these marks is the same. Alternatively, the CCM can be added to the UK hallmark for an additional charge.
- The number and type of articles submitted in the packet and the weight
- Any special hallmarking instructions, eg if laser hallmarking is required, desired positions where marks should be applied (see Mark Formations)
- The country of origin of the articles
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Packets with articles for hallmarking can be sent to Assay Office London by post or courier or they can be brought in. The Opening Times
are listed below.
Assay Office London adopts a 'right first time' approach to satisfy
its customers. Please do not hesitate to contact the Assay Office
to discuss marking requirements. A good tip is to mark with ink the
areas on the articles which are the desired positions for the hallmarks
to be applied.
Guidance Notes on the Hallmarking of Gold, Silver and Platinum
In addition to the information contained in the Current Hallmarks section, the guidance below is a summary of the Hallmarking Act 1973 (and subsequent amendments) as it relates to particular types of article and the methods used to manufacture them. No reliance must be placed on it for a legal interpretation. The Assay Office is happy to answer questions arising from this guidance and on other hallmarking issues.
FINENESS AND SOLDER
Precious metal fineness is expressed in parts per thousand by weight.
ALLOY |
U.K. FINENESS |
PERMITTED SOLDER |
CCM |
GOLD |
999 |
750 |
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GOLD |
990 |
750 |
Not available |
GOLD |
916 |
750 |
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GOLD |
750 |
750 |
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GOLD |
750 Filigree or watch case |
740 |
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GOLD |
750 White |
500 |
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GOLD |
585 Yellow, Red |
585 |
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GOLD |
585 White |
500 |
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GOLD |
375 |
375 |
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SILVER |
999 |
650 |
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SILVER |
958 |
650 |
Not available |
SILVER |
925 |
650 |
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| SILVER |
800 |
650 |
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| PLATINUM |
999 |
Two or more of gold, silver, platinum and palladium to total 950
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| PLATINUM |
950 |
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| PLATINUM |
900 |
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PLATINUM |
850 |
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The excessive use of solder is not permitted.
ADHESIVES
Adhesives may be used in place of solder as long as it is not excessive, nor used for strengthening, weighting or filling.
FILLINGS
Hollow articles may be filled with non-metallic substances. Such articles must be marked "FILLED" before hallmarking
PLATING
Hallmarked articles may be plated as follows:
- Gold articles with gold, platinum, rhodium
- Silver articles with silver, gold, platinum, rhodium
- Platinum articles with platinum, rhodium
ARTICLES OF TWO OR MORE PRECIOUS METALS
The hallmark applied is that of the least precious metal, which must be more than 50% of the weight of the article. Whenever possible, the fineness mark of the more precious metal is added.
- Platinum is more precious than gold, and silver is the least precious.
Platinum articles with less than 50% by weight of yellow 750 gold are hallmarked as platinum.
- 750 white gold snaps, ear-ring fastening pins are permitted on platinum articles.
- Platinum and 750 white gold articles are hallmarked as 750 gold.
ARTICLES MADE OF PRECIOUS METALS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Small, working base metal parts are permitted. Regulations on the use of base metals are made from time to time by the British Hallmarking Council.
Authorised parts in base metal must either be clearly distinguishable in colour from the precious metal or struck with the word "METAL" .
Base metals such as stainless steel are not considered to be distinguishable from silver, white gold or platinum.
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Pricing
Pricing is structured on a per article basis but a minimum charge
applies, essentially to cover sampling and assaying costs. Additional
services and non-standard services command additional prices.
OPENING TIMES
Assay Office London is open Monday-Friday, 8.00am-5.00pm.
It is closed on Bank Holidays.
RETURN OF GOODS BY POST
Completed packets are returned by registered post. Two levels
of compensation are available: £1000 and £2500.
ENQUIRIES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
For enquiries and further information, please contact:
Deputy Warden
Assay Office London
Goldsmiths' Hall
Gutter Lane
London EC2V 8AQ
Tel: 020 7606 8971
Fax: 020 7814 9353
E-mail:
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