Hallmarks Explained: Quality Guarantees & Tracing A Piece's History

Hallmarks are small imprints on fine jewellery pieces that tell about its origins and act as a guarantee of quality based on UK standards. You’ve probably spotted one on the inside of a ring or the back of a necklace pendant in your personal collection. Sometimes they’re printed on a small metal tag near a clasp on a chain, or even in a more prominent place if a designer chooses to incorporate it into their design. All of these marks tell you the history of a piece, and my brand is no different. And what do these different numbers, letters and symbols represent? Let’s have a look.

Sponsor’s Mark

This one tells you who submitted the article for hallmarking. In this case, I use my own unique sponsors mark which no one else has. When you first apply for a hallmark you can choose the initials, shape outline and font of your own unique mark. 

Metal Fineness Mark 

If you ever want to know for certain what material quality your article of jewellery is, this mark tells you what it’s made of (eg. 375 - 9ct yellow gold, 585 - 14ct yellow gold, 750 - 18ct yellow gold)

Assay Office Town Mark

The Goldsmiths’ Company has been hallmarking UK articles for over 700 years. Located at the Goldsmiths’ Hall nearby my Central London workshop, the Assay Office handles all of these hallmarks, including on my pieces. The application of these marks tells my customers that their new colourful fine jewellery has been tested and hallmarked to UK fine jewellery standards.

There are also Assay Offices in Edinburgh, Sheffield and Birmingham where the same tests are carried out.

Want to know more about the fine metals I choose to use for my designs? Take a look at this article. 

Date Letter

This mark tells when the piece was hallmarked, it’s as simple as that!

 

Hallmarks are a great guide to the history and makeup of your piece, and being a UK-based producer, you’ll find them on all of my pieces. Getting to know the different ones and their meanings will tell you exactly what type of fine metal it was made from and that it’s been quality checked. So you know your GS jewellery is guaranteed to be exactly what you’ve paid for. I carefully consider what materials I use in my designs so they work beautifully for every day wear; be it an engagement ring or a pair of colourful drop earrings you’ve treated yourself to, I want my pieces to stand the test of time.