Displaying Hallmarking Information

**Solunar Silver Studio** · 11-09-2009, 04:34 PM

Thanks all - I didn't realise you could get them from the Assay Office - I'll get one with my next batch! You are a great bunch - thank you!

Thanks for your get well wishes too - I'm still a bit on the 'pathetic' side but I am feeling more like me today - so I'm heading in the right direction!

**MuranoSilver** · 12-09-2009, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by ben b

The assay offices now, are plainly out to make money any way they can, hence all the valuation services they promote, and treat the job they were set up to do with contempt, and as a nuicance.
I seriously doubt any case has been bought in recent years, over consumer jewellery, other than prosecution for faking hallmarks which are sold so dodgily, the hallmark should be the last thing on your mind...

I have found both the Edinburgh AND London Assay offices to be helpful (haven't dealt with the others) and the folks there have bent over backward to help. The hallmark is a legal requirement (whatever your personal view) and bearing in mind the amount of shonky tricksters out there anything that protects both the consumer AND the industry has got to be a good thing...
So they made a mistake 15 years ago we all do.... and I'm sure mistakes are still made, however the thousands upon thousands of pieces they mark are in the majority of cases done swiftly and professionally.

The penalty for faking hallmarks is readable here:Crown Prosecution Service Hallmarks

Ben, I'm sure that your intention isn't to deliberately mislead people....but advice that a Hallmark should be the "last thing on your mind" is reckless on a forum that hosts inexperienced / new Jewellery makers.
This is taken from the Assay Office Londons Question and Answer Section (a nice clear guide thanks Assay Office!)
It is against the law in the course of a trade or business to sell or describe precious metal articles in the UK that are un-hallmarked and above the weight exemptions. Trading Standards Officers have the power to seize any items that do not comply with the 1973 Hallmarking Act which can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000 per article.
More info including weight etc can be found under the question and answer link of phoning them.

I would hope that new jewellery makers have met a lot of the Assay office folks at the jewellery shows and colleges they attend. If you haven't go and meet them, they're lovely folks and very helpful!
nic x

**kymbi** · 12-09-2009, 11:20 PM

I got a small hallmarking card free from our local trading standards people when they held an open day at greenwich craft market where I have a stall - the smaller card is quite handy to put in a small acrylic holder at the side of the stall.

**Solunar Silver Studio** · 13-09-2009, 09:57 AM

Oooooerrrrrrr!! What did I miss??!!

Whatever it was....

I am really happy that I registered my hallmark. I do make chains that are over 7.8 so it was a given that I would have to anyway - but I do mark my other chains and pmc pendants too - even if they are not that heavy. (I do draw the line at earrings though - they have to be really special for me to consider getting the pair hallmarked!)

For me it works as a customer confidence thing. Most people wouldn't have a clue if what you are selling is silver or not...and in my case - they wouldn't know the difference between 925 and 999. My hallmark proves to them that I am selling them the real deal....even if it does only weigh 3 or 4 grams...they know it is pure silver.

It also adds a bit of kudos. If someone has a personal hallmark - then they are not a fly by night salesman...(woman)....but someone who is committed to what they are making and cares enough to put their official, registered mark onto it.

I've just not seen it written down before that you have to display the hallmark information card wherever you are selling to the public....and I still can't see the card advertised on the Assay websites....I'll have to email them tomorrow and see what they have on offer!

.....And I thought I was asking an innocent question....didn't expect nuclear fallout all over the forum this morning!!

...sorry!!

**kymbi** · 13-09-2009, 11:07 AM

I'm not sure if you can purchase the hallmark chart online from the Assay Office, but there is a link to download the form to order one via post

http://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/d...N2)_Notice.pdf

**Solunar Silver Studio** · 02-10-2009, 08:44 AM

I stumbled over the Birmingham Assay Office site this morning whilst looking for something else and noticed that they had a 'Download Area', so I have had a quick look. They have a downloadable Dealer's Notice and a Hallmarking Guidance Notes booklet (which I have downloaded and made up as a little 12 page booklet) which I think I will take with me to the parties I do in future so that I can make more of a feature of my hallmark. There is quite a lot of interesting info on the site...including a step by step of how an item is assayed. I thought it was good anyway....

Here's the link anyway...The Birmingham Assay Office

**MuranoSilver** · 02-10-2009, 09:19 AM

Oooh great info thanks Barbara

**snow_imp** · 02-10-2009, 09:31 AM

Back to hallmarking again - I had a chat with the Edinburgh assay office yesterday, as others have said, they were really helpful and didn't mind all my really silly questions. Upshot of the chat, they are sending me the registration documents to complete.

What have I done!!!!

**Green Monster** · 02-10-2009, 09:38 AM

a peev I have with hallmarks is they are supposed to represent a guarentee to the customer of metal quality etc, but my hall mark is ( and was recomended as a suitable size to use by the assay office) so small it is only visible (and then only just ) with a 10 times loupe. If it is such a major part of guarenteeing the goods why is it so darn impossible to see clearly, for many folk you could stamp a small channel l in the metal and they would not know whether it was a hallmark or not.

I think they should be clearer. I think I will order a larger sponsors stamp and request larger assay marks, most of my work tends to be a bit bolder so it will take the larger mark and I want customers to see the "guarentee".

rant over....
Cheers
G

**Ominicci** · 02-10-2009, 09:40 AM

Barbara - The Hallmarking Act section 11 states that any dealer in precious metals must display the Dealer's Notice (I assume that anyone selling is a 'dealer'). See the 'Selling precious metal in the UK' download on the B'ham AO site (bad quality pdf tho'!). I'm sure also read somewhere that the Notice had to be the larger version (trying to find that reference now....).

This possibly;
The B'ham site does say The Birmingham Assay Office 'This must be the notice produced by the British Hallmarking Council...Photocopies and other photographic reproductions are not acceptable. And the download says it is an 'example'.