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Hallmarking Guide
22 April 2025
Welcome to our blog explaining the legal requirements of hallmarking. Our colleagues from the Birmingham Assay Office, with whom we have worked for all of our 47 years, have kindly made us this video explaining how hallmarking works.
What is a Hallmark?
Hallmarking is a system of verifying and certifying the purity of precious metals such as gold silver and platinum. It involves applying a series of marks to guarantee their metal content and to make sure that the metal confirms to the legal standards of purity,
In the UK, hallmarking is mandated by the Hallmarking Act 1973 for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium items over certain weights. Manufacturers or importers cannot apply hallmarks themselves. Goods must be submitted to one of the four UK Assay Offices, or an Assay Office affiliated with the International Convention
Exemptions
All jewellery sold as gold, silver or platinum must confirm to the standards set by the Hallmarking Act but, if a precious metal item weighs less than a certain amount it is not compulsory to apply a full hallmark. The minimum weight thresholds for exemption are:
- Silver: No hallmark needed if it weighs less than 7.78g.
- Gold and Palladium: No hallmark needed if under 1g.
- Platinum: No hallmark needed if under 0.5g.
Typically, these items will be marked with either SILVER, SIL or 925 but this is not a legal requirement.
CME requires all manufacturers to supply goods that conform to all legal standards regarding the integrity of the silver, gold or platinum and submit evidence of their precious metal testing. We also ask that any goods underweight are stamped with 925, SIL or SILVER. All of our goods over the required hallmarking weight are sent for hallmarking to the Birmingham Assay Office.
Please visit the Birmingham Assay Office website https://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/ It is a wonderful source of information.