A HALLMARK IS YOUR GUARANTEE.
Since the 1400's, the official Edinburgh Assay Office (EAO) has been testing and hallmarking precious metals to ensure their fineness and quality. Every Jewlr piece is carefully inspected by the EAO to guarantee our customers are getting nothing but the very best.
WHAT ARE HALLMARKS?
Hallmarks are a series of marks stamped on jewellery and other items made of precious metals. Hallmarks can only be applied by an independent Government authorised Assay Office. The Assay Office must test each item before applying the Hallmark. A Hallmark guarantees the precious metal content of the alloy used to make the jewellery in question. In the UK, Hallmarking has taken place since the 1300s.
At Jewlr, we take pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our jewellery, and want our customers to rest assured that their personalised jewellery is made using only the finest materials.
THE REASON FOR USING HALLMARKS
Gold and sterling silver are two of the most popular precious metals used to make jewellery. In their purest form these metals are too soft and must be mixed with other metals, known as alloys, for added strength and durability. This ensures that the jewellery will be able to hold its shape and withstand a lifetime of wear. A Hallmark guarantees that the percentage of precious metal within the alloy is as advertised.
Due to the high cost and value of these precious metals, hallmarking is a legal requirement in the UK for precious metals over a certain weight.
The Testing Process
When an item is received by a UK assay office, it will undergo three processes to test the purity of the metal:
SAMPLING
Traditionally, this process is done by removing a very tiny piece of the metal to be tested. Today, sampling is usually performed in a non-invasive manner using an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry machine, so that none of the metal is removed for testing.
ASSAYING
The process of testing the jewellery to determine whether the percentage of precious metal within the alloy meets the required standard.
HALLMARKING
The process of applying the appropriate marks to the item tested.
HALLMARKS - WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The hallmarks will be stamped on an inconspicuous location on allJewlr jewellery, and will not be visible when worn. The hallmark consists of at least three compulsory parts:
The Sponsor's Mark -This mark is a unique mark identifying the maker or sponsor who has sent the items to be hallmarked.
The Fineness Mark - denotes the fineness of the metal. The purity of the precious metal content is recorded in parts per 1000. For example, 14 carat gold jewellery must contain 585 parts per 1000 of pure gold. Gold jewellery meeting this standard will be marked with 585 to denote 14 carat.
The Assay Office Mark - indicates which UK Assay Office tested and marked the item.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Our Sponsors mark, the mark of 14ct gold and The Assay Office Mark of Edinburgh.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO US AT JEWLR THAT OUR JEWELLERY REMAINS ONLY IN THE MOST CAPABLE HANDS. AS SUCH, WE HAVE OUR JEWELLERY HALLMARKED AT THE RENOWNED AND RESPECTED ASSAY OFFICE IN EDINBURGH.
QUALITY SERVICE, GUARANTEED
It is important to us at Jewlr that our jewellery remains only in the most capable hands. As such, we have our jewellery hallmarked at the renowned and respected Assay Office in Edinburgh. This office has been in operation since 1457, carefully testing precious metals and winning UK industry awards for their customer service and superior workmanship. Please visit the Edinburgh Assay Office to learn more about their commitment to customer satisfaction.
Jewlr is a member of the Assay Assured scheme which was developed to protect consumers when purchasing jewellery online. All retailers signed up to the scheme are subject to website audits and agree that any problems with precious metals purchased will be independently resolved at no charge to the customer. Find out more about Assay Assured. Learn More
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