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Visit the London Assay Office

Visit the Birmingham Assay Office

Visit the Edinburgh Assay Office

Visit the Sheffield Assay Office

 

What Is Hallmarking?

 

Hallmarking is an old method used to safeguard consumers. The word itself basically means marking goods. The London Assay Office mark dates back to the year 1300. In today’s time Hallmarking isn’t only run from the London assay offices but also from the Birmingham assay office, the Edinburgh assay office and the Sheffield assay office therefore enabling Hallmarking to be easily controlled all over the united kingdom there is also an international hallmarking committee which consists of the following countries-Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Czech republic, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. Hallmarking shows three main facts – who made the article and there initials, what the metal is and its purity and where it was tested for its purity and marked (the assay office). Hallmarking is not appropriate if the product is gold or silver-plated.

Metal and Fineness (Purity) Mark

Metal:

Compulsory Mark

9ct gold

375

14ct gold

585

18ct gold

750

22ct gold

916

99% pure gold

990

99.9% pure gold

999

800 grade silver

800

Sterling silver

925

Britannia Silver

958

99.9% pure silver

999

85% Platinum

850

90% Platinum

900

95% (UK standard) Platinum

950

99.9% pure Platinum

999

 

 

To the left are two charts that show the purity of gold, silver and platinum

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the good things about Hallmarking are-

-It protects buyers from fraud

-It’s a guarantee of quality

-It helps find an age of an antique

-It prevents fake gold being melted down and resold

 

By Paul Barge.

 

 

Send mail to Michael@GoodchildsJewellers.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Goodchilds Jewellers
Last modified: October 04, 2003