Gold Jewellery Hallmarks Explained — How to Read Them and Why They Matter

What a Hallmark Is

A hallmark is a set of marks stamped into a precious-metal item by an independent assay office to guarantee its purity. In the UK the assay offices are London (leopard's head), Birmingham (anchor), Sheffield (Yorkshire rose) and Edinburgh (castle). The mark has legal weight and cannot be added by the maker.

The Five Marks

A complete UK hallmark consists of: the sponsor's mark (who made or imported the piece), the fineness mark (375, 585, 750, 916 or 999), the assay office mark, the date letter, and optionally a traditional fineness symbol or commemorative mark.

Why It Matters

Without a hallmark, the purity claim is unverified. It is illegal to sell unhallmarked items as gold in the UK above 1 gram. For pre-owned pieces, a clear hallmark protects both buyer and seller and underpins the entire secondary market.

International Marks

The Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals — often called the Vienna Convention — produces the Common Control Mark recognised across member countries including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the UK and many EU states. Non-Convention countries use national systems; always verify before buying.

Hallmark vs Bullion Mark

Hallmarks apply to jewellery and worked items. Investment bars and coins carry a different set of assay marks — refinery stamp, weight and fineness, serial number. When buying bullion from a dealer like SilverGoldBull, the bar or coin arrives with its own certification rather than a jewellery hallmark.

Frequently Asked Questions