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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.
December 09, 2024 | 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.
Christmas is arguably one of the most romantic times of the year to propose. There’s something about the frosty weather and the cosiness of staying warm indoors with the one you love that makes it so meaningful. Plus, there are so many fun and creative ways you can propose.
Whether you want to pop the question in front of your family or prefer to keep the moment an intimate one, there’s one thing that’s guaranteed — a memorable Christmas for years to come. In this piece, we discuss the cutest Christmas proposal ideas so you can make this year one to remember.
White Gold Round Side Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
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Pave Setting Blue Sapphire Halo Engagement Ring
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Emerald Halo Ruby Engagement Ring
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Yellow Gold Trilogy Diamond Engagement Ring
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Ruby Round White Gold Engagement Ring
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Emerald Halo Emerald Engagement Ring
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Pave Setting Emerald Halo Engagement Ring
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1. Christmas Card Proposal
Why not surprise your loved one with a personalised Christmas card proposal? Personalise your Christmas card with a romantic proposal message, and get down on one knee with a solitaire engagement ring as they open it.
2. Surprise Gift Proposal
For the ultimate proposal, give them a gift they won’t be expecting. You’ll need a large box and several smaller boxes that you can wrap to look like presents. Place them inside one another so that your loved one has to unwrap each one. The last and smallest gift they unwrap should be a twinkling engagement ring.
3. Christmas Tree Proposal
What could be a better Christmas tree decoration, than a vintage engagement ring? Hang the diamond ring on the tree with a piece of ribbon, and get ready to pop the question when they notice it on Christmas day.
4. Romantic Snow Proposal
If it’s snowing where you are this Christmas, why not make the most of it? A proposal in the snow is one of the most romantic proposal ideas. It can be as simple as taking a walk to your favourite spot together, or you could be lucky enough to visit a reindeer or husky farm to soak up the spirit of Christmas before asking the all-important question.
5. Say It With Lights Proposal
With the days getting dark and frosty around Christmas time, an outdoor proposal might be the perfect choice. Why not set up an area in your garden and spell your proposal message in lights? Try fairy lights or candles for a thoughtful home proposal.
6. Santa's Little Helper Proposal
Plan a cute proposal by involving your child or pet. You can either dress them in a T-shirt with your proposal message written on it or tie a ribbon with an engagement ring onto it. Be prepared, though — your loved one may shed a tear of joy at such a sweet proposal!
7. Advent Calendar Proposal
If you don’t mind getting a bit creative, an advent calendar proposal is a great option. Create your own by using small numbered pouches tied to a string, and place small gifts into each day’s number. Place the engagement ring inside the last pouch (Christmas Day) for a surprise they won’t forget!
8. Message In A Cracker Proposal
For a proposal with a bang, why not try a message in a cracker? There are plenty of places to buy personalised crackers, or you could even make your own. Just make sure you give the cracker to the correct person during Christmas dinner!
9. Mistletoe Proposal
It may be a little cliché, but proposing under the mistletoe is always a winner. Grab your loved one under some mistletoe and surprise them with a charming diamond ring.
10. Christmas Treasure Hunt Proposal
Keep your loved one guessing with a Christmas treasure hunt. Start Christmas morning by asking several questions, with each answer directing your partner to a different location. The last question should lead your loved one to a twinkling engagement ring.
11. Christmas Family Photo Proposal
If you want to surprise your loved one, why not plan a Christmas family photo proposal? Whether you prefer to let the family in on the plan or not, is entirely up to you. Just as you’re taking the annual family photo, get down on one knee with the ring. Or better yet, you could pretend you are taking a photograph but instead film the entire proposal. The great thing about this idea is that you’ll capture footage of the whole family’s reactions — perfect for showing the grandchildren in years to come! Head to our Christmas Gift Guide to see our range of beautiful engagement rings. Or if you’ve left it a little late, why not check out our quick-delivery diamond engagement rings? It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!