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We’ve teamed up with Klarna to provide flexible payment options, allowing you to shop the way you want. With Klarna, you can split your payment into 3 instalments or choose to pay later, making your shopping experience smoother and more convenient. Your order total must be between £100 and £499 to qualify.
We’ve teamed up with Klarna to provide flexible payment options, allowing you to shop the way you want. With Klarna, you can split your payment into 3 instalments or choose to pay later, making your shopping experience smoother and more convenient. Your order total must be between £100 and £499 to qualify.
February 08, 2016 | by Admin
It is law within the UK that every item of precious metal sold such as Platinum, Gold, Silver is stamped labelling the item with the type of metal it is. Platinum pieces which weigh less than 0.5 grams, 18ct Gold and Palladium pieces weighing less than 1.0 gram and Silver pieces weighing less than 7.78 grams are except from hallmark.
At Diamonds Factory all our products are hallmarked as per UK hallmarking law from London Assay Office (The GoldSmith Company)
The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office is the oldest assay office in the United Kingdom. It has provided hallmarking services since The Goldsmiths' Company was founded in the 1300s. The company received its royal charter in 1327 and ranks 5th in order of precedence of the 12 Great Livery Companies of the City of London.
Hallmarking dates back to the 1300s when Edward I of England passed a law requiring any item made of silver, which was offered for sale, to be at least of equal quality as that of the coin of the realm (silver currency). The wardens of The Goldsmiths' Company were tasked with visiting workshops in the City of London to assay (test) silver articles. If these articles were found to be below standard they were originally destroyed and the metal forfeited to the King. If they passed, each article received the King's mark of authentication - the mark of a leopard's head. By 1478, there were several hundred workshops and merchants manufacturing silver articles in the City of London. It was not possible for the wardens to visit them all so the merchants were ordered to bring their items to Goldsmiths' Hall for testing and marking and a permanent Assay Office was established in the building. This is the origin of the term hallmark - struck with the King's mark at Goldsmiths' Hall.
In 1544 the Goldsmith's Company adopted the King's mark as their town mark and the mark of the leopard's head is now internationally recognised as the mark of this assay office.
The Goldsmiths's Company Assay Office is still based at Goldsmiths's Hall and remains the oldest company in Britain to be continually trading from the same site. However, it also has two satellite offices; at Greville Street in Hatton Garden in the heart of the London jewellery quarter and within a high security complex near London's Heathrow airport. It now has a new off-site facility within the Dalston-based jewellery manufacturer, Allied Gold. This is the first time in the Assay Office's 700 year history that it has opened permanent hallmarking services on a customer's premises.
In addition to hallmarking, the office has now expanded its range of services to support the jewellery trade and enforcement authorities. It offers a variety of specialist analytical services including nickel, lead & cadmium testing, antique silver dating, non-destructive compositional analysis, plating thickness measurement and a melt and assay service for scrap precious metal carried out in their fully independent on-site laboratory. Other services offered are a jewellery valuation service, laser marking, trading standards assistance, high quality photography and a comprehensive range of training and educational seminars, lectures and specialist events.
A very special piece from our store featuring a 1.75-carat heart-shaped diamond in platinum, valued at over £10,000.
Take it from us; we see a lot of excitement around Valentine’s Day for people looking for something to completely astonish their partners. And whether that’s a proposal, or you’re surprising your existing other half, here’s a short list of ideas in order to start the ball rolling.
1. Round Stud Earrings
A pair of our very popular diamond stud earrings, with a beautiful floral design at the back. Prices range from £300 - £30,000.
No matter what time of year it is, a pair of stud earrings are a common theme across many jewellery collections around the world. They are simple, elegant, and depending on the size that you go for, you could either have a smaller pair of earrings that are minimalistic and understated or a larger pair (with the same design) and they would look like pure luxury. Just a tip though, the chances are that your partner already has a pair of these; try to find what they’re wearing and give them a complete upgrade.
2. Side Stone Pendant Solitaire
In a similar vein to the stud earrings, a diamond pendant is a great accessory, particularly if you’re going to fancy parties and you need something grandiose to match. This particular one in the photo above has a nice little side stone embellishment that gives it a bit more texture.
A stunning classic solitaire pendant. The single diamond is further emphasised with the side stone diamond accent. Prices range from £300 - £30,000.
3. Rose Gold Half Eternity
Rose gold has been trending for a while now and looks really good in a number of different designs. We especially like the half eternity for a few reasons, firstly because pave setting gives you a row of smaller diamonds that sit nicely on the hand; not too bold yet striking enough to be noticed casually. It’s a great gift that your partner can use to stack with other rings or to add to their (no doubt quickly growing) jewellery collection. Half eternities are also good because they can be resized, unlike their full eternity cousins. Take care when you’re sizing that ring!
We love mixing the warmth of rose gold with sparkling diamonds into a half eternity design. Prices range from £300 - £3100.
4. A Cute Diamond Charm
You may have wondered what these little things are used for; you can add them to existing bangles or necklaces as an extra finish. With beautiful and intricate designs accented by sparkling diamonds, your partner can mix and match. Why not take your gift to the next level and craft your own bangle using different types of materials and objects?
This charm can be used to customise a bangle or necklace as you like. Prices range from £100 - £254.
5. Circle Diamond Pendant
A circle usually emphasises the idea of the infinite, which is the underlying idea behind rings and jewellery in general. We love the delicate and overlapping circular designs, fitted delicately with small diamonds for added style.
A delicately designed diamond pave pendant with half spirals to create a subtle optical illusion. Prices range from £300 - £615.
6. Circle Pave Earrings
Want to match the above pendant with a striking pair of earrings? These are the ones.
Get a pair of matching earrings, prices range from £277 - £770.
7. Heart Shaped Engagement Ring
If you’re feeling brave, and ultimately you’re doing it because you have to, then a Valentine’s Day proposal with a heart-shaped ring might be the one for you. We recommend going especially for a larger stone (might cost you a bit) so that you can bring even more emphasis to the heart shape.
Like this design? View our heart shaped engagement rings in our store. Prices are updated daily and can change.