Hallmarks
have been used in Britain, Europe and all over the world to grade,
date and identify silver, plate, gold and platinum, for hundreds
of years making it one of the earliest forms of consumer protection.
A hallmarked piece indicates that the piece has been checked for
purity - that is, having the minimum silver or gold content - or
passed at assay. The term "Hallmark" was derived from Goldsmiths'
Hall in London, the first "assay office", as we know them today.
A Hallmark stamp is a stamp used to signify fineness of quality which is applied
to an article of precious metal after test by assay, by an official Assay Office.
An article cannot receive a mark until it is assayed and found to be of a standard
of quality required by law.
Before material can be Hallmarked the manufacturer (Sponsor) must register
with an Assay Office which operates under full legal powers. The Sponsor's
Mark is the mark of the jewellery designer/creator. The main purpose of the
Sponsor's Mark is to identify the person or persons responsible for manufacturing
the piece. These initials are usually surrounded by a shield and the Assay
Office will only accept a design of a Sponsor's mark if it is distinct from
any other mark registered at that office.
The Standard Mark is the mark that guarantees the quality and karatage of the
item is not below the legal standard indicated by the mark. For example, an
18K stamp may only be used if the purity of gold is at least 18K or above.
It must never be below the stamped value. The same applies to silver. The stamp
925 means that the metal involved is of sterling silver quality or better.
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