Price match guarantee
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.
April 28, 2020 | 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.
If you have been discussing marriage, or a proposal has been on the cards for some time, a bridal set could be a great choice. Not only will you cover both your partner's engagement ring and wedding band in one go, but it also means that both rings will be designed to look and fit harmoniously together. In this post, we discuss everything you need to know about bridal sets and how to match your engagement ring and wedding band to perfection.
How do you get your wedding ring to match your engagement ring?
There are plenty of ways to match your engagement ring and wedding band. You should consider the shape of each ring along with the metal type and style of each design. Most jewellery stores will help by suggesting styles they know work together but, the easiest way to ensure both rings match beautifully is to buy a bridal set. A bridal set is designed specifically so that your engagement ring and wedding bands match harmoniously in style and fit - doing the hard work for you and taking the guess-work out.
Advantages of a bridal set:
Can you propose with a bridal set?
Yes, of course! Although it may not be an idea favoured by everyone. By purchasing a bridal set, which includes both an engagement ring and wedding band, you are somewhat assuming your partner will say ‘yes’. Most people who buy bridal sets are those who are pretty certain that they will get the answer they are looking for or couples who have discussed the idea of marriage before. A bridal set is also a great idea if your partner is looking to update their current set to something newer and more stylish. So if you are looking to propose, or you are already married, a bridal set can be a great solution.
Does my wedding band have to match my engagement ring?
Not necessarily, however, it has become increasingly popular to match both your wedding and engagement rings. This is possible because the overall appearance tends to look more modern and considered than those bought separately.
How do you wear a bridal or wedding ring set?
Once you have said ‘yes’, your engagement ring should be placed on the ring finger of your left hand. During the wedding ceremony, if you follow tradition, you should place your engagement ring on your right hand. After the wedding, you should then place your engagement ring back on top of your wedding ring. Your wedding ring should be on the bottom, so it is closer to your heart. If you are lucky enough to receive an eternity ring, you can wear this on top of your engagement ring or if it proves more comfortable, on the same finger on the opposite hand.
Do you wear your engagement ring when you walk down the aisle?
Traditionally, yes. You would place your engagement ring on the ring finger of your right hand and then move it back over on top of your wedding band once the ceremony has taken place.
Best bridal/ wedding ring sets
The best thing about bridal ring sets is that they now come in a variety of different styles. From classic or contemporary styles to vintage designs that offer something a little more unique, a bridal set can be tailored to your personality.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Solitaire Bridal Set
Vintage Style Bridal Set
Heart Halo Bridal Set
Cushion Halo Bridal Set
Feeling inspired? Discover our beautiful selection of bridal sets online, or head to our other blog post for unique ways to propose at home.