Hallmarking

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Hallmarking

The Hallmarking Act 1973 provides details on the law covering hallmarking, assaying and describing articles made of, or containing precious metals (gold, silver and platinum).

The act defines the marks that are stamped on an item when it has passed the Assay Office tests. The law says hallmarks must be 'approved'. Due to changes in the law, the definition of approved hallmarks has been extended to include hallmarks which come from countries within the European Economic Areas (EEA Marks).

The Approved Hallmarks which are allowed are those which are stamped by an independent organisation according to the law of the member states. The information must also be understandable to the people buying jewellery in that state. Please refer to the Assay Office for more information if necessary.

• It is an offence under the Hallmarking Act to describe unhallmarked articles as being made totally or partly of gold, silver or platinum or, supply or offer to supply an article that is made of gold, silver or platinum which has not been hallmarked.
• Articles do not have to be hallmarked if they weigh less than 1 gram for gold, 0.5 grams for platinum and 7.78 grams for silver. Articles are only exempt on weight as long as they are of the standard declared.
• You can describe articles as plated as long as this is an accurate description according to the quality of the precious metal plating used. Rolled gold is also allowed as long as this is an accurate description and not used for gold-plated goods.
• Because of the importance of hallmarks to customers, the act creates offences if articles with hallmarks on have unauthorised additions, alterations or repairs to them. Any person removing, altering or defacing a hallmark, unless they have the written permission of an Assay Office is also committing an offence. Section 5 of the Act gives details of the offences that may be committed for altering hallmarked articles, and you should familiarise yourself with these.
• It is an offence to counterfeit dies and marks - see Schedule 6 of the Hallmarking Act.
• All dealers must clearly exhibit the British Hallmarking Council notice which sets out all the new hallmarks that can be stamped on precious metals.

Sponsor's marks

Before you send an article to an Assay Office to be stamped with the approved hallmarks, it must be stamped with a sponsor's mark. Or, you can make arrangements with the Assay Offices for them to stamp on a sponsor's mark before they stamp the approved hallmarks. The sponsor's mark shows who made the item or paid for it to be made and the mark must be registered with an Assay Office before it can be used. You can find details of the requirements in Section 3 of the Hallmarking Act, or get information from the Assay Office.

Important amendments to the Hallmarking Act 1973

Changes in UK hallmarking law have meant that European Member States have now agreed upon minimum standards of 'fineness' for articles made of precious metals. These changes are now in force throughout the European Union. In the United Kingdom, the regulations came into force on 1 January 1999.

Changes to marks

• The regulations introduce two new gold standards of 990 and 999 parts of gold per thousand of metal.
• For silver, two new standards of 800 and 999 parts of silver per thousand of metal are introduced.
• For platinum, three new standards of 850, 900 and 999 parts of platinum per thousand of metal are introduced.
• You no longer need the date letter, which was previously compulsory for all articles other than those of small weight. However you can stamp it on if you wish.
• Standards of fineness must now be expressed in parts per thousand. However, manufacturers can continue to ask for traditional marks such as the lion, crown or orb to be stamped alongside the parts per thousand mark.
• The marks which were previously used to distinguish British goods from imports no longer exist. All marks are now the same no matter where the goods are from.
• The date at which an article is considered to be an antique and so exempt from hallmarking has changed from 1900 to 1920.

Powers of officers

Under the Hallmarking Act our officers have wide powers of enforcement.Trading Standards have the power to:

• make test purchases;enter premises at reasonable times to inspect goods;
• ask you to produce books or documents relating to the business and take them away, if necessary; and
• seize goods, which might be needed as evidence.

For further information please contact us.

Contact information

• email: ts.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0141 840 3184 (select option 2)
• call in or write to us at:
  Renfrewshire Council
  Environmental Services
  Trading Standards
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1BR