Tucked inside the band of your RB engagement or wedding ring, you might see a few small markings barely visible to the naked eye. They are infact a UK hallmark, legally required in this country for certain jewellery, and here’s why:
WHAT IS A HALLMARK?
In the words of the London Assay Office, the company who apply our hallmark, a hallmark 'is a set of component marks applied to articles of the precious metals gold, silver, platinum or palladium.’
The mark means that article has been independently tested and confirms the purity of the metal it was made in. They also tell us where the piece was hallmarked, and who it was sent for hallmarking by. The marks look like this picture below.
HAVE THEY ALWAYS EXISTED?
In 1300 AD, UK hallmarking as we know it was introduced under the reign of Edward I. It was declared that no silver-work 'was to depart out of the hands' of the makers without first being stamped with the small mark of a leopard’s head.
WHAT DO THE MARKS MEAN?
There are 4 to 5 marks in a full traditional hallmark:
1. Sponsor’s mark - an individual mark created for the maker, or person/company submitting the assayed article. Ours reads ‘RB’ - Rachel’s initials.
2 & 3. Fineness mark - what the article is made of. On our hallmark you will read 375 for 9ct gold, 750 for 18ct gold and 850 for platinum.
4. Assay office mark - where the rings were hallmarked. On our rings you will see the London or Birmingham mark.
5. Date letter mark - each year is ascribed a letter, so ours will vary depending on when we created your ring.
DO I NEED ONE ON MY RING?
It is a legal requirement for gold over 1g and platinum of 0.5g to have a UK recognised hallmark. That is why you will find all of our rings are hallmarked, and the majority of our earrings and fine jewellery.
HOW DO THEY TEST THE METAL?
Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence technology is used by the Assay Office to determine the metal’s fineness, meaning no damage is made to the surface of the jewellery being assayed.
If you have any further questions regarding the hallmark or any of our jewellery and services, please get in touch here.
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