hallmarking

There seems to be a lot of confusion about hallmarking, and there are lots (and LOTS) of items advertised as hallmarked when they are not.

AHallmarking is a specific legal process designed to ensure you, the customer, are not being cheated and to ensure the authenticity of the piece you are buying. Here’s a few basics:

• Hallmarking is not just a word – it is a legal process of chemically analysing the metal to confirm the precious metal content, and then marking with the official hallmark symbols.
• In the UK, all items of silver, gold, palladium, or platinum above a certain weight, are required by law to be hallmarked if they are offered for sale.
• In the case of silver, any item weighing more than 7.78g must be hallmarked. If it is not hallmarked, it is illegal to advertise it as silver.
• Any other mark applied by anyone else, such as stamping “925” or “sterling” on a piece, is NOT hallmarking, and cannot be relied upon.

You can find out more about hallmarking at the UK Government website and also at the London Assay Office website.