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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.
January 08, 2021 | 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 diamond necklace or pendant makes a great gift for a loved one, or even for yourself. They come in a wide range of designs and styles to suit almost every occasion. Our jewellery can be customised by selecting your preferred metal type and diamond specifications, meaning that we can easily create the necklace or pendant you desire. But what is the difference between diamond necklaces and pendants? We reveal the answer in this article.
What is a necklace?
A necklace is a chain, usually made from metal, gemstones or beads, designed to be worn decoratively around the neck. A diamond necklace usually refers to a tennis necklace or a chain with a diamond pendant.
What is a diamond pendant?
A diamond pendant is a single ornament used to adorn a necklace. Diamond pendant necklaces usually consist of a central diamond that is attached by a small loop to a jewellery chain made from precious metal. Diamond pendants come in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes, and there is one to suit almost every budget. Solitaire diamond pendants are the most popular pendant style because they are timeless and elegant.
The difference between a diamond necklace and pendant?
A diamond necklace is typically a necklace adorned partially or fully with diamonds. We usually refer to a diamond necklace as a tennis necklace. A diamond pendant is a single jewellery piece, of any shape, style or size that is attached to a chain by a loop. There are no rules when it comes to styling diamond pendants, and multiple can be added to a single chain or worn individually.
Different types of diamond necklace
Solitaire diamond necklace
A solitaire diamond pendant necklace is by far the most popular style. This style usually consists of a single diamond pendant attached to a precious metal chain. It is versatile enough to be worn both day and night and can be styled easily with other jewellery.
Diamond tennis necklace
A diamond tennis necklace features a continuous strand of diamonds. There may be just one row of diamonds, or there may be multiple rows, depending on the design. One thing is for sure - a tennis necklace is one of the most luxurious styles.
Cascading necklace
A cascading necklace features multiple rows of diamonds or gemstones and emphasises an outfit. This style is ideal for adding more glamour to eveningwear.
Choker
A choker necklace is designed to sit above your collarbone or directly around your neck. Chokers come in a variety of different styles and materials. A diamond choker necklace usually contains multiple rows of diamonds and is typically reserved for special occasions.
Lariat necklace
A lariat necklace is long and elegant. Unlike other necklace styles, lariat necklaces do not have a traditional clasp fastening. Instead, one end is threaded through the other end to fasten it.
Princess length necklace
A princess length necklace is one of the most versatile as it hangs just below the collarbone. Its length makes it ideal for wearing with several different necklines.
Opera necklace
An opera necklace is designed to draw attention. This style is very long and hangs very low - making it perfect for plunging necklines.
A beautiful diamond necklace or pendant can be the focal point of any outfit. Head to our other article 6 diamond necklace styles for every occasion, for advice on how to style your pendants and necklaces.