Gold and silver hallmarks
Understanding British or English hallmarking since 1238

Dating Silver by Assay and Fineness marks
Quickly decide whether the your object is pre 1975 and its original Assay office.

Using a British Hallmark Guide
How to quickly identify gold and Silver hallmarks that you see in car boot sales and markets.

Dating UK Hallmarks
See all the main dated hallmarks from the UK since 1678

International Hallmarks
How to identify the international hallmarks on gold, silver and platinum products.

Rare Gold and Silver Hallmarks
Hallmarks used for events, dates or hallmarks that are no longer made.

Understanding British Hallmarks
The 8 hallmarks that guarantee the quality and value on UK Assayed products.

Gold and Silver Hallmark Guide
Buy this hallmark guide for your iphone, ipod touch or mobile device for £2.99 now.

gold and silver hallmark


How to identify international hallmarks.

 

The United Kingdom has been a signatory to the 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 Hallmark 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 other marks must also be present.

The hallmark guarantees that the purity of the metal is at least that indicated by the fineness Number.

european convention hallmarks 

Current International Hallmarks

Since the 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:

european hallmarks

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:

fineness mark

Using these criteria, the national hallmarks of Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Portugal and Switzerland, without the Common Control Mark, are acceptable in the UK.
Some European hallmarking countries are not members of the International Convention.
Spain has a dual system of Assay Office hallmarking and licensed manufacturers marking. The only Spanish hallmarks which conform to the British Hallmarking Council are:

spanish hallmarks

In the opinion of the British Hallmarking Council, the national laws of Belgium and France do not presently provide an equivalent guarantee. Some European hallmarking countries are in the process of joining the International Convention (i.e. France). Consequently, the list of acceptable Assay Office marks is likely to be extended according to these developments.

Italy, 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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gold and silver hallmarks