Hallmarking
Hallmarks aren’t just stamps — they’re your guarantee of quality. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s behind those tiny marks.
What is Hallmarking?
Hallmarking is jewellery’s official mark of authenticity — an assurance from an independent Assay Office that your piece is truly crafted from silver or gold.
Each hallmark is a series of small, precise symbols that confirm the metal type, its purity, and the Assay Office that tested and certified it. Think of it as your jewellery’s own signature of trust.
A little clarification: the “.925” stamp you may see on some pieces isn’t a hallmark. It’s simply a fineness stamp that anyone can add. Only an Assay Office can apply a legally recognised hallmark.
Sponsor's Mark
The Sponsor’s Mark shows who’s officially responsible for getting a piece hallmarked — and in our case, that’s us! It’s formed from our initials inside a unique little shield, making every mark completely one-of-a-kind.
Traditional Fineness Symbol
These little icons are the classic way to show a piece’s metal and purity — like the lion for sterling silver, a crown for gold, or other symbols for different metals. In our example, we’re using the lion for sterling silver.
Millesimal Fineness Mark
This number shows the metal and purity — like 925 for sterling silver — with the shield hinting at the metal type. It’s a promise that the piece meets that standard.
Assay Office Mark
This mark shows which Assay Office tested and hallmarked your piece. The example here is the historic leopard’s head of London, it is internationally recognised as a stamp of quality and a nod to centuries of craftsmanship.
Date Letter Mark
This little letter shows the year the piece was hallmarked - the example here is for 2024. Each year brings a new font, shield, and style, and last year’s punches are retired for good.
Why it matters?
Hallmarks are like a jewellery passport — a mark that proves your piece is genuine and crafted from real precious metal.
In the UK, anything over 7.78g for silver or 1g for gold must carry a hallmark, while smaller, lighter pieces like delicate rings don’t need one, which is perfectly normal.
If you’d like your smaller items to have this official stamp of authenticity, we can happily send it to the Assay Office for you — just drop us an email or message!
