HALLMARKING
Every piece of precious metal jewellery (over 7.5 g) has to be Hallmarked. This us your guarantee that the materials used are of the quality/metal they are said to be made of.
Hallmarking cannot be done by the designer, maker, manufacturer or the person that imported the precious metal item. It has to be submitted to an Assay Office for testing and marking. I am registered in London. They will test the metal for fineness and purity, eg 9ct gold, 925 silver and when it passes they will then Hallmark it.
The Hallmark consists of the makers mark, a date letter, the Assay office mark. (Barbara's is the Lions head as she is registered in the London Assay Office), 925 standard European mark, a lion for the traditional fineness Mark of silver. The marks are either punched or lasered to the metal.
Hallmarking was originally introduced in 1300 and is one of the earliest forms of consumer protection. Hallmarking is necessary on items over a certain weight. As a consumer, this gives you a guarantee of the quality of materials and the product. Everything in my Silver Collection is Hallmarked, apart from my earrings.
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MAKERS MARK
DEALERS NOTICE
The makers mark is made up of a shaped crest with initials inside it. This is registered to an Assay Office. The combination of shape and initials registered to Barbara is hers and no one else can have that makers mark. Hers is registered in London.
As a maker/retailer of hallmarked items, it is compulsory that a Dealers Notice be displayed. even online. This notice is from the Assay Office and explains allthe approved Hallmarks.
