Assay Assured
When encountering a gold jewelry piece, have you ever desired a deeper understanding? With some background knowledge, one can easily identify and trace their jewelry using hallmarks. Existing for centuries, hallmarks serve as a guarantee of the metal's quality and purity, instilling confidence in your purchase.
What is Hallmark?
A hallmark is a stamped mark that can be found on jewellery items to indicate the purity of gold. The higher the fineness, the more rare and valuable it will be. Purer gold would have fewer impurities in it than an alloy. Hallmarks are usually stamped or engraved into a piece of metal at its base where they cannot be rubbed off easily; for example, a 916 stamp would mean the jewellery is 22-carat gold. The marking indicated the jewellery has 91.6% pure gold.
Why is Gold Jewellery Hallmarked?
A hallmark is a UK government seal that's stamped on precious metals like solid gold, silver, palladium, or platinum. This provides the authenticity of the precious metal the jewellery is made from. In essence, if an object is marked with a 'gold' hallmark, then you, the consumer, can be assured that it is genuinely real gold - and not a different material that only resembles gold.
The only things that are exempt from the hallmarking law are items that weigh less than the legal weight:
- 0.5 grams for Platinum
- 1 gram for Gold
- 1 gram for Palladium
- 7.78 grams for Sterling Silver
Our Commitment to Hallmarking
Carat Goldsmith has Sheffield Tudor Rose mark as it is registered with the Sheffield Assay Office, giving you the assurance that our gold jewellery meets all regulations. In addition, all stock goes through an internal confirmation process to ensure that it meets the UK’s hallmarking regulations before being dispatched to our customers providing a peace of mind regarding the authenticity of their online purchase. In the rare instances, you may come across a 916 hallmark solely on the jewelry, as some pieces cannot be stamped during the hallmarking process due to the intricate design and delicate nature of the gold. However, rest assured, the authenticity of the gold remains unquestionable.
