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)
Where Hallmarking Began
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.
Today
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.
Know More
If your birthday falls in the month of August, you’ve arrived at the right place because we’re shining a well-deserved spotlight on the gorgeous green Peridot stone. With its stunning olive green hues, the Peridot is one of the only gemstones to be discovered in a singular colour, allowing it to stand out amongst the rest effortlessly.
4 Prong Setting Oval Peridot Three Stone Ring
From £916
Prong Setting Halo Peridot Pendant
From £886
4 Prong Setting Oval Peridot Pendent
From £325
4 Prong Setting Oval Peridot Pendent
From £569
Prong Setting Round Peridot Stud Earring
From £865
Prong Setting Halo Peridot Earring
From £866
Prong Setting Round Peridot Halo Earrings
From £1,454
4 Prong Setting Oval Peridot Tennis Bracelet
From £2,047
4 Prong Setting Pear Peridot Tennis Bracelet
From £4,468
Bezel Setting Peridot Halo Engagement Ring
From £662
Bezel Setting Peridot Halo Engagement Ring
From £1,020
Bezel Setting Peridot Halo Engagement Ring
From £941
Bezel Setting Peridot Halo Engagement Ring
From £1,121
A little bit of peridot history
Perhaps one of the lesser-known birthstones amongst the likes of Ruby, Emerald and beyond, the Peridot surprisingly has a rich and fascinating history behind it. With the first Peridots known to be mined for over 3500 years by the ancient Egyptians on the island of Zabargad located in the Red Sea, legend has it that it was more easily mined at night, due to its beautiful green glow. This in turn saw the Peridot often being referred to as the ‘gem of the sun’.
Throughout the decades Peridot has been mistaken for the highly popular emerald gemstone, and evidence has surfaced that suggests Cleopatra’s vast collections of emeralds could have been confused with what were peridots, which would make perfect sense with the stone’s original connection to ancient Egypt.
Where is peridot found?
Unique in its form, the Peridot can predominantly be found within lava in volcanic ash or molten rock but has also been discovered in meteorites and deep in the earth's core. In today’s climate, peridot can be found all over the world, in areas of Vietnam, China, the USA, Tanzania and many more locations.
There’s also a dedicated beach to the peridot stone, named Mahana Beach in Hawaii. Filled with sand rich in the bright green mineral olivine (which can also be known as peridot). Locals often refer to peridot as the “Hawaiian Diamond” and even sell small teardrop shaped gems that are said to refer to Pele, the goddess of volcano’s hardened tears.
What’s the meaning of the peridot?
With various meanings behind the semi-precious stone, the peridot is predominantly said to bring good fortune and prosperity thanks to its colour resemblance to money – so if your birthday is in August, you’re in luck! Alongside this, physicians once believed the peridot contained various healing properties, whilst balancing the mind and aiding a restful sleep too. From physical, to mental and emotional benefits, the peridot connects to the heart chakra, and is said to bring love and light into the life of whoever wears it.
If you’re considering purchasing a peridot ring or piece of jewellery, head over to our peridot jewellery hub where you can browse our full range of peridot earrings, peridot diamond rings and even more birthstone jewellery pieces online today.