Guide to Hallmarking

A hallmark is that little mark or engraving, made up of shapes, numbers, letters and images that you may have spotted on your piece of jewellery. But this hallmark symbolises something much bigger — a historic industry tradition to be proud of. It is not only very important but a legal requirement.

A hallmark is a set of component marks which are applied to items of jewellery or objects made from precious metal. When we say precious, we mean it has to be gold, silver, platinum or palladium.

When selling a piece of precious jewellery, every retailer is legally required to send their piece to be independently tested at one of the UK's four Assay Offices. The metal is professionally tested by the respective Assay Office to determine the fineness of metal used. Only then, if it passes, can it receive its hallmark.

For the untrained eye, a hallmark can be difficult to decipher, so here is what a Full Traditional Hallmark comprises:

Each precious metal has its own set of millesimal fineness marks. Here are the standard marks for gold, silver, platinum and palladium used across the UK.

We're proud to have our very own Sponsor's Mark, which each piece of our jewellery is stamped with, so you can be sure your jewellery is from a long-standing, quality maker.

It is an R (for Robert) and a B (for Bicknell) inside two triangles, which is followed by the other compulsory marks that make up the full traditional hallmark.

When it comes to buying jewellery and precious objects, nowhere in the world are customers more protected than in the UK. We're one of very few countries in the world that has made hallmarking a legal requirement.

What Is the Purpose of Hallmarking?
The purpose of hallmarking is to distinguish precious jewellery and objects from those made from base metals. Giving customers the peace of mind that the metal content of the piece they are buying has been independently verified by an Assay Office.

A jewellery hallmark is usually placed somewhere discreet on the piece. You will find most hallmarks inside ring bands, on earring posts or on a chain clasp.

How Are Hallmarks Applied to Jewellery?
There are various ways to hallmark a piece of jewellery and the jeweller and Assay Office will determine the best way to do this for each individual piece. A piece of jewellery can be struck with a hallmark which is applied through sharply hitting a piece of jewellery with a stamp and a hammer to apply the mark. Alternatively it can be laser engraved, which is a newer and less intrusive process.

At Robert Bicknell Fine Jewellery, we take great pride in ensuring every piece we create carries the correct hallmark. If you have any questions about hallmarking or would like to discuss a commission, please get in touch.