Hallmarking

What Is Hallmarking in the UK?

A guide to UK hallmark law, assay offices, and how to tell if jewellery is genuine

If you are buying jewellery in the United Kingdom, you may notice tiny stamped marks inside a ring, on a pendant, or on the clasp of a bracelet.
These marks are called hallmarks, and they are one of the most important ways to tell if precious metal jewellery is genuine.

UK hallmarking laws exist to protect customers, ensuring that gold, silver, platinum and palladium items are exactly what they claim to be.

In this guide, we explain what hallmarking is, why it matters, and how to recognise a real UK hallmark.

What is a hallmark?

A hallmark is an official mark applied to precious metal by an independent Assay Office.
It confirms that the metal has been tested and meets the legal standard of purity.

In the UK, hallmarking is required by law for most items made from:

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Platinum
  • Palladium

If a piece is above the legal weight limit, it must be hallmarked before it can be sold.

This protects buyers from fake, plated, or low-quality jewellery being sold as solid precious metal.

UK hallmarking law

The UK has one of the strictest hallmarking systems in the world, governed by the Hallmarking Act 1973.

This law states that:

  • Precious metal must be tested by an official Assay Office
  • The maker must be registered with a sponsor’s mark
  • Items over the legal weight limit must be hallmarked before sale
  • It is illegal to describe an item as gold, silver, platinum or palladium if it does not meet the required standard

Because of this, a full UK hallmark is a strong sign that jewellery is genuine.

The four UK Assay Offices

Only four official Assay Offices can apply UK hallmarks:

  • London Assay Office
  • Birmingham Assay Office
  • Sheffield Assay Office
  • Edinburgh Assay Office

Each office has its own symbol, which appears as part of the hallmark.

These offices test the metal independently, meaning the maker cannot certify their own jewellery.

What Do The Hallmark Symbols Mean?

A full UK hallmark normally contains several marks.

Sponsor’s mark

This identifies the maker or company responsible for the item.  Memory Within Memorial Jewellery has its own sponsor mark consisting of letters MW inside a heart shape.

Metal and fineness mark

This shows the type of metal and its purity.

Common examples include:

  • 925 - Sterling silver
  • 375 - 9ct gold
  • 750 - 18ct gold
  • 950 - Platinum

Assay Office mark

This shows where the item was tested.

Optional marks may also include a date letter or traditional symbols.

Together, these marks confirm the jewellery has been independently tested and meets UK legal standards.

When hallmarking is not required

Very small items can legally be sold without a hallmark if they fall below certain weights.

Current UK limits are:

  • Silver under 7.78g
  • Gold under 1g
  • Platinum under 0.5g
  • Palladium under 1g

Even when hallmarking is not required, the seller must still describe the metal honestly.

This is why some small rings, charms, or memorial jewellery pieces may not carry a hallmark, but are still made from genuine precious metal.

Why hallmarking matters when buying memorial jewellery

When jewellery is made to hold ashes, hair, fur, or other meaningful inclusions, it often carries emotional value far beyond the metal itself.

Because of this, it is important that the metal used is genuine, durable, and legally verified.

At Memory Within Memorial Jewellery, all pieces that require hallmarking are sent to a UK Assay Office for testing in accordance with UK law.

This ensures every item meets the same standards as any fine jewellery sold in the United Kingdom.

How to tell if jewellery is hallmarked

You will usually find the hallmark:

  • Inside the band of a ring
  • On the back of a pendant
  • On the clasp of a chain or bracelet
  • On the post or back of earrings

The marks are very small, but they should be clear and neatly stamped or laser marked.

If jewellery is described as solid gold or silver and has no hallmark when it should have one, this can be a warning sign.

A tradition of protection for over 700 years

Hallmarking in Britain dates back to the 1300s, making it one of the oldest consumer protection systems in the world.

Today, it remains one of the best ways to make sure the jewellery you buy is genuine, correctly described, and legally sold.

For something as meaningful as memorial jewellery, that reassurance matters.