All Your Questions Answered On Hallmarking Jewellery By London Assay Office

What is hallmarking and is it a legal requirement?

Precious metals are rarely used in their purest form but are usually alloyed with other metals for workability, durability, wearability.

It isn't possible to detect an article's precious metal content by sight or touch. Therefore, it is a legal requirement for an Assay Office to hallmark articles containing precious metals if they are described as such. Hallmarks are marks applied to precious metals to indicate the amount of pure metal in the alloy. Traditionally applied by striking with a punch, hallmarks can now also be applied using lasers.

Read more here.

What metals need hallmarking?

Platinum, gold, palladium and silver- weight exemptions apply to each.

It’s a legal requirement for silver over 7.78g, gold and palladium over 1g, and platinum over 0.5g to have a UK recognised hallmark. 

I need a hallmark but I don’t know where to start, what are the steps to get started?

To sell precious metal articles legally in the UK, you need to have them hallmarked. We know this can seem a daunting prospect, so our aim is to provide a simple, practical guidelines which simplify the hallmarking process from registration, submitting your work and payment options, to receiving your work back with a beautifully-crafted London hallmark.

To start hallmarking, first you need to register with an Assay Office. On registering with us, you select your sponsor's mark, then, either order your punch, or choose to have your work hallmarked by laser.

If you are a full, or part time student, you can take advantage of our exclusive student registration package. 

Read more here

What is a Sponsor/Makers mark and is it a requirement?

The Full Traditional Hallmark comprises five marks:

• Sponsor's mark
• Traditional fineness mark
• Millesimal fineness mark
• Assay Office mark
• Date letter mark

Unless otherwise stated this is the standard mark we apply. (The UK Compulsory Hallmark comprises of only three of these component marks: Sponsor's mark, Millesimal fineness mark and Assay Office mark.)

(NB: Sponsor’s Mark is also known as Maker's Mark.) This is the registered mark of the company or person that submitted the article for hallmarking. It is formed of initials of that person or company inside a shield shape. The shield shape varies, and a minimum of two initials must be included. Every one is unique.

When you register with us, you are registering a sponsor’s mark - the first symbol in the hallmark. Each sponsors’ mark is unique and therefore provides a traceable link to the source of an article. A sponsors’ mark comprises of the initials of the person or company registering (minimum of two, maximum of five initials) within a surrounding shield.

Will the Assay Office design the mark for me or do I need to supply a design?

We offer 45 standard shield designs to choose from. Bespoke designs are available by special arrangement at an additional cost.

How long does registration last for and what is the cost?

A ten year registration fee costs £72 (including VAT) and is renewable after 10 years. This fee includes free laser set up for standard designs.

Should you wish to purchase a punch so you can have your hallmark applied by hand this costs an additional £85-90 per punch (depending on quantity of initials requested).

You can register online here and will be guided through the choices. Find out more here.

I’m a student - can I get a discount?

All full and part time students on a current jewellery or silversmithing course can register online free of charge for a 10 year laser only registration. Find out more here.

How do I choose between having a punch hallmark or a laser hallmark?

Traditional struck marks are made with a punch, creating an impression by moving (forming) the metal - this can leave a slight 'bruise' on the metal, or can distort it (depending on the thickness). This can be removed by an experienced jeweller or silversmith by filing and finishing, a process known as 'setting back'.

If your work is unfinished, a struck mark is recommended as the result is deep, and can then withstand plating and general finishing. This hallmark will last a lifetime.

Handmarking is the most traditional method of hallmarking, and is carried out using a punch and hammer. This type of marking is not recommended for very thin metal, delicate or hollow articles.

Pressmarking is another traditional form of hallmarking. Essentially it is an automated version of handmarking with marks applied using fly press or air press. The process is often used for large runs of the same or similar type of article.

If your work is finished and polished, a laser hallmark is ideal as the process does not displace the metal so you won't need to set it back.

Laser Marks are made with either a fibre, lamp pump, or diode laser - all three are used across our offices. A very fine, high powered beam vapourises the surface of the metal and etches on the hallmarks.

Laser marking is the most recent method of applying the hallmark.

The limited depth of focus on a laser makes flat articles, such as watch backs, photo frames, tops of cufflinks, and flat areas on large wares the best suited to laser hallmarking.

Marking on curved articles is possible when the radius of curvature is sufficiently shallow to maintain focus (a smaller size/length mark often helps for those articles).

It is important to read this section of the website: https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/hallmarking/methods-of-marking

If you order a punch its size should reflect the type of articles to be hallmarked, and choosing the correct size is paramount. A large punch will be unsuitable for delicate items as the punching process will displace the metal.

On registering with us, you select your sponsor's mark, then, either order your punch, or choose to have your work hallmarked by laser. When you register with us the fee includes free laser set up for standard designs - so you can switch between methods. 

Can I send strips of silver cut to an average ring length to be hallmarked before I make them to size for customers? Or does the item have to be properly formed into a ring first? This is more cost effective for me to send in lots of articles in one go rather than as and when I get an order.

You can send strip form – providing no metal is added to them afterwards.

How can I tell whether my jewellery is one or more articles? For example, does a pair of earrings count as one or two articles.

Earrings and cufflinks are marked as INDIVIDUAL articles. Therefore 1 pair is 2 articles.

A pendant and chain where the pendant is fixed to the chain (either soldered or not able to be removed from either end of the chain) is only allowed one hallmark as it is deemed to be one article. A pendant and chain where the pendant can easily be removed from the chain can have a hallmark on the pendant and the chain as they are deemed as 2 separate articles.

Can I specify where I’d like the hallmark to be on my jewellery, if so how?

Unless specified, hallmarked are placed in default positions depending on the type of article.

While the hallmark is regarded as the oldest form of consumer protection, it can also be used creatively as a marketing tool. Not only does it provide provenance, but it can also be used as a mechanism to commemorate special occasions or events; yet many people still don’t understand its significance.

Many of our customers appear to submit their articles for hallmarking without considering the many options available to them for its application. To some, the hallmark is just a legal stamp and its application purely a duty, but it does not have to be so. The hallmark is a thing of beauty – intricate and detailed, expertly applied – and it can truly enhance the appearance and add value to a piece.

The standard hallmark formation is a horizontal mark with minimal spacing between each hallmarking component. Many customers – particularly those submitting jewellery – leave the placement to our discretion. When it comes to silverware, it is more common for the desired position of the hallmark to be indicated on the piece, and many silversmiths request display marks. A larger mark is quite standard on larger pieces, but the hallmark is increasingly being used as a design motif, an accent or a focal point, and the display or “feature” mark is the perfect way to achieve this effect. Read more here. (And video on Hallmarking Positions most relevant).

In fact, it is possible to specify the size, location and configuration of the hallmark components of any article. It’s the perfect opportunity to make the mark more personal and to create something that is in harmony with a piece by incorporating it into the design. The hallmark is a unique signature and stamp of authenticity. Its power is in the guarantee of fineness – it provides a talking point and gives customers confidence in the work. So, as long as it can be applied in the chosen location and it complies with the law, it is a fantastic way to add value to a business.

If you wish please indicate your preferred position using the hallnote special request section. You can indicate on the item itself with a marker pen where you would like the hallmark applied. We can advise on the most suitable positioning for any hallmark. 

What’s the best way to get in contact with Assay Office if I have another question?

You can search terms on our website, check our FAQs page https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/faqs, watch our video content, email us info@assayoffice london.co.uk or call on 207 6060 8971 

A huge thank you to the team at London Assay Office for taking the time to share this information