What do the hallmark symbols on gold mean
When buying or selling jewellery, whether it is gold, silver, or platinum, it is important to look at the symbols on it. These symbols, known as hallmarks, are a way of showing the content of your jewellery or gold. Whether it’s a gold bracelet, a ring, or a necklace, if you look close enough you will find hallmarks on it.
Here is an easy breakdown of what these symbols on your gold or jewellery actually mean:
Town Marks
Let’s start nice and easy. These various symbols show where your gold or jewellery was tested and marked. Currently, there are four Assay Offices in the UK in: London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Sheffield.
Traditional Finesse Symbols
The traditional finesse symbols are optional to include as they are not specific enough to the purity of the metal. However, they are recognised and iconic to have on your jewellery.
Metal and Finesse Mark
This is a more specific marker showing the purity of your gold or precious metal. You have most likely heard about different “carats” of gold. A higher carat means the gold or jewellery is purer and is worth more money. As you can see in the gold section, the higher the finesse mark the higher the carat value.
You can access the full guide here
Makers Mark
The Maker’s mark is one of the three compulsory symbols to hallmark jewellery. This mark always has at least two letters and is inside of a shape. Different countries have different marks, but All UK maker marks are unique to each jeweller. For example S&W stands for Slade & Woolf.
It’s illegal to sell or describe Gold or jewellery that is not hallmarked
In the UK it is a criminal act to describe or sell gold, silver, platinum or palladium that is not hallmarked. Whenever choosing to buy jewellery, always make sure there is a hallmark to certify it is authentic. However, there are cases where your gold or jewellery doesn’t weigh enough it does not need to be hallmarked. Silver under 7.78 grams, palladium under 1.0 gram, gold under 1. 0 gram, and platinum under 0.5 grams do not need a hallmark. Read about the 1973 Hallmarking Act here
Is your gold or jewellery hallmarked
Take a look at your old jewellery and gold to see if it’s hallmarked. You could get a better idea of its value if you are looking to sell. But if you’re still not sure, bring your jewellery into one of our Cash & Cheque Express stores to get a free valuation. We accept gold and jewellery in any condition, colour, weight, or size. We’ll take a look if you think it has a value!
If you have any valuable jewellery or gold and need some quick cash, then you can sell it to us for cash, arrange a BuyBack where we give you the option to buy back your item within 28 days, or even use it against a Pawnbroking loan. Whatever you decide, we will look after you! Come visit us in your local store here.