BRITISH
HALLMARKS STERLING SILVER
The
British hallmarking standard on silver is very high,
just from looking at the hallmark you can decipher what
date the item was made, who the maker was and in which
town it was hallmarked. This enables us to date pieces
going right back to the 16th century. The British Hallmark
is also your guarantee of the purity of silver (higher
than 92.5% purity).
1.
Manufacturers mark (example)
2. Fineness (parts/thousand)
3. Assay Office Mark (London)
4. Date Mark (1999)
5. Pictorial Symbol
The
History of Hallmarks
Hallmarking represents one of the earliest forms of
consumer protection. A hallmark is a series of marks
applied to gold, silver and platinum articles. It indicates
that the article has been independently tested at an
Assay Office and guarantees that it conforms to the
legal standards of precious metal content, known as
the fineness.
In 1238 Henry III ordered that all goldsmiths and silversmiths
must have their wares assayed (from the French "assai",
to test) and conform to certain standards.
The Act of Edward I, 1300, decreed that all gold and
silver work should be, 'Of the sterling allay or better,
at the pleasure of him to whom the work belongeth'.
By 1363 every gold or silver smith had to stamp each
piece of work with their personal mark to show that
they had met the set standards.
In 1478 year marks were introduced to further protect
consumers.
The Customs Act of 1842 stated that all silver imports
to the UK were to be assayed and marked in a UK assay
office, backdated to 1800.
Since the end of the 12th Century there has been strict
control of items made from silver in England. This is
still regulated and controlled by the Goldsmiths Hall
in London to this very day.
Each piece of silver produced in the UK is required
by law to be sent to an Assay Office for assaying. If
the required legal standards are met the silversmith's
marks are then stamped onto the article.
If you buy a piece of British hallmarked silver you
are guaranteed a quality item, which will hold its value
and become an investment for the future.
The
Leopard's Head is the mark of the London Assay Office
and has been in continuous use since 1300, when the
Wardens of the Company were given responsibility for
marking gold and silver wares, which passed assay, with
the King's mark of the Leopard's Head. Still based in
Goldsmiths' Hall, and using the most up-to-date technology,
the London Assay Office hallmarks several million articles
every year. It is also the Secretariat of the Association
of European Assay Offices. Hallmarking is now carried
out under the statutory jurisdiction of the Hallmarking
Act 1973. The Act also established the British Hallmarking
Council. The Council has various powers and duties regarding
hallmarking, which include ensuring adequate assaying
and hallmarking facilities in the UK.
For further information: www.britishhallmarkingcouncil.gov.uk
