Hallmarking

WHAT IS HALLMARKING?
Basically hallmarking is a method of safe guarding consumers.  The Assay Offices around the country test the metal and stamp it accordingly.  Hallmarking is compulsory if you are selling jewellery or metals to the public and it is over a certain weight.  It is a legal requirement if a silver item is over 7.8g, gold over 1g and platinum over 0.5g.  If you are going to sell your jewellery direct to the public on your website then it should be hallmarked and will have to be if over the weight limits.

You can apply for a British hallmark to either of the Assay Offices, in London, Sheffield or Birmingham.  Just simply get in touch with them and they will send you the necessary registration papers.  Registration costs £47 plus VAT and lasts for 10 years.  You will then either have to buy a punch which costs between £70 to £100 or choose to have your work laser marked – both methods have disadvantages on silver clay.  Punching can sometimes mark or dent the work and laser marking doesn’t come out well on textured pieces!!  I tend to send my when they are unfinished and get them punched so any slight damage can be polished out.  Best to get them stamped on a thick area or make a little plaque with a cutter for the stamp to go.  When you send the pieces off mark where you want the stamp to appear with a permanent marker pen so it marked exactly where you want it!

You then pay a charge per hallmark on each piece and postage of course!  You can get all the details from:

Assay Offices
London 020 7606 8971
Birmingham 0121 236 6951
Sheffield 0114 275 5111

People living in Ireland, can apply for a Dublin hallmark

Dublin Assay Office, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, IRELAND

Telephone: +353 1 475 1286 Fax +353 1 478 3838