Hallmarking represents one of the oldest forms of consumer protection, designed to safeguard buyers. Any jewelry or item marketed as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium must bear a hallmark to confirm its authenticity and quality.
Investment gold, such as bullion bars and coins, is exempt from hallmarking laws. As raw materials, their purity is assured by the London Bullion Market Association, with refiners and mints stamping their products with purity and fineness instead of traditional hallmarks.
Hallmarks on precious metals consist of three compulsory marks: a sponsor’s mark, a fineness mark, and an assay office mark. Additional symbols may be present, but these three are fundamental.
The sponsor's mark identifies the individual or company that submitted the item to the assay office for hallmarking. For instance, in the UK, hand-poured silver from @backyardbullion is marked with 'BYB', the official mark of Backyard Bullion.
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Historically, many assay offices operated in the UK, but today only four independent offices remain. These offices test the purity of precious metals and protect consumers from counterfeit items. If an item meets the legal standards for purity, the assay office stamps it with the appropriate mark.
The four main UK assay offices are:
- Birmingham Assay Office
- Edinburgh Assay Office
- London Assay Office
- Sheffield Assay Office
The fineness mark indicates the precious metal content of the item, recorded in parts per thousand. This means the number reflects the percentage of precious metal in the alloy. For example, a fineness mark of 375 on 9-carat gold indicates the alloy contains at least 375 parts gold per 1000. The shape surrounding the number signifies the type of metal.
Additional marks can provide more information about the item. One such optional mark is the date letter symbol, which indicates the year the item was hallmarked, helping to determine its age.
Understanding these marks ensures that you can confidently identify and verify the authenticity and quality of your gold and silver items. By recognising and interpreting hallmark symbols, you protect your investment and appreciate the heritage and craftsmanship of your precious metal possessions.
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