Know Your Hallmarks

SILVER

In the UK, it is a legal requirement under the

Hallmarking Act 1973 to hallmark any silver item weighing more than 7.78 grams. Items below this weight are exempt, but if sold as sterling silver, they must meet the required purity standard. A full hallmark, applied by an Assay Office, consists of a sponsor’s mark, fineness (purity) mark, and assay office mark.

GOLD

In the UK, it is a legal requirement under the Hallmarking Act 1973 to hallmark all gold items weighing more than 1 gram, or they cannot be described as gold. A, full,, valid hallmark, which must be applied by an independent assay office, consists of a sponsor’s mark, a fineness (purity) mark, and an assay office town mark.

PLATINUM

In the UK, all platinum items weighing more than 0.5 grams must legally carry a valid, independent hallmark to be described as platinum. A legal hallmark, usually found inside rings or on clasps, must include a sponsor's mark (maker), fineness mark (purity), and Assay Office mark.