Can you hallmark your own jewellery

These are the kind of allowances that mean something doesn't have to be hallmarked. The exemption weight is based on the precious metal content only, which means it excludes, for example, the weight of diamonds, gemstones etc. In the case of articles consisting of precious metal and a base metal then the exemption weight is based on the total metal weight. Anything over the following metal weights would need to be hallmarked:.

Any items that were made before may now be described and sold as precious metal without a hallmark. However the seller must be able to prove that it is of minimum fineness and was manufactured before For more information and a full lust of exemption take a look at this hallmarking guidance document on the government website. If your design uses precious metal and is likely to be over the exempt weights you will need to send it off for evaluation by the assay office.

Here they test the precious metal content of your work then give it the appropriate assay purity mark. Any makers mark can be registered with an essay office, but the design must be approved by the assay office first. Please note that all UK Assay Offices are independent of one another.

Once you have paid the Registration fee, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to fill in your customer details. Select an option If you are a full-time student, click here to have a look at our full-time student discount offer if you would like details of the offer, plus a registration pack for our full and part-time student offer please contact customerservice theassayoffice.

There are cases unfortunately, where items have been distorted and need reshaping or adjusting because of how they have been punched. If you are just piercing a piece and not soldering then you may want to get the silver sheet hallmarked before creating the whole item. We suggest opting for a deep laser hallmark as this is not punched in the traditional way so tends not to damage your piece.

When your jewellery is finished and ready to be hallmarked, you will need to take or post your items to the Assay Office to be tested and stamped. You need to complete a hallnote - a form with all your details and instructions for the packet of jewellery to be hallmarked. There is a fee for the batch of jewellery you send in to to be processed and a fee for each hallmark to be applied to each piece. You also have the option to get your hallmarking done quickly, especially handy if you have a commission, but the cost is much higher so it pays to give yourself plenty of time!

Tip: it is more economical to parcel up and send in a number of pieces at a time. You then pay a parcel fee and a fee per piece that requires hallmarking as and when you need it. You will find much more help and information on how to apply for your hallmark at each Offices website so do your research and check which works for you.

London www. Birmingham www. Compulsory hallmarking means that the public will always have a guarantee of genuine quality in their jewellery. Assay Office laboratories now test precious metal purity using the latest technologies, including x-ray and laser analysis.

However, many objects are still stamped by hand, exactly as they were years ago. Only jewellery that carries an officially registered British or international hallmark can be sold in the UK. A hallmark will usually include the Assay Office town mark, together with additional marks, such as a date letter, a metal standard symbol or a duty stamp.

There are hundreds of registered hallmark elements.