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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.
November 19, 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.
Christmas is arguably one of the most romantic times of the year to propose. There is something about the frosty weather and the cosiness of staying warm indoors with the one you love, that makes it so meaningful. There are so many fun and creative ways to propose too.
Whether you want to pop the question in front of your family or prefer to keep the moment an intimate one, one thing is guaranteed - a memorable Christmas for years to come. In this article, we discuss the cutest Christmas proposal ideas so you can make this year an unforgettable one.
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 are about to open it.
2. Surprise gift proposal
For the ultimate proposal give them a gift they won’t expect. Get a large box and a number of smaller boxes that fit inside each other and wrap each one to look like a present. 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 beautiful engagement ring.
3. Christmas tree proposal
What could be a better Christmas tree decoration, than a beautiful vintage engagement ring? Just 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 is snowing where you are at 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 popping the question to your loved one.
5. Say it with lights proposal
With it getting dark and frosty around Christmas time a romantic outdoor proposal may be a great choice. Why not set an area up outside your home or in your garden and spell your proposal message in lights? Try fairy lights or candles for a cute home proposal that will also make the best ring selfie backdrop.
6. Santa's little helper proposal
Plan a cute proposal by getting your child or pet involved. You can either get them to wear a t-shirt with your proposal message written on it, or a ribbon with an engagement ring tied onto it. Be prepared though - your loved one may shed a tear of joy at such a sweet proposal idea!
7. Advent calendar proposal
If you don’t mind getting a bit creative, an advent calendar proposal is a great choice. Create your own by using small numbered pouches tied onto a string and place small gifts into each day’s number. Place the engagement ring inside the last day (Christmas Day) of the calendar, 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 you can buy personalised crackers so you can add your proposal message, or you could even make your own. Just make sure you give the cracker to the correct person during Christmas dinner!
9. Mistletoe proposal
Maybe a little cliché, but also a cute Christmas proposal idea - proposing under the mistletoe! Grab your loved one under some mistletoe and surprise them with a beautiful diamond ring. It is that sweet and simple!
10. Christmas treasure hunt proposal
Keep your loved one guessing with a Christmas treasure hunt. Start Christmas morning with several questions, with each answer directing them to different locations. The last question should lead your loved one to a beautiful 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), it is entirely up to you. Just as you are 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 proposal idea is that you will get footage of the whole family’s reactions - perfect for showing the grandchildren in years to come!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Shop our range of beautiful engagement rings or if you have left it a little late, why not check out our quick delivery diamond jewellery range?
For the best advice on finding your ring size, head to our engagement ring resizing guide.