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
Christmas proposal are the most famous ones but what if you caught your partner by surprise and propose on New Year’s Eve? That’s what we call a sparkling start of the year. We have made a list with proposal ideas to help you surprise your loved one.
When the clock strikes midnight
It doesn’t matter if you are at a party or at home by the fire, when the bells ring out at midnight to welcome the New Year, get down on one knee and ask them to marry you. This proposal might be the most romantic yet simple way to propose on New Year’s Eve. Just remember to order the engagement ring in advance!
With a little help from the carollers
This requires a little bit more preparation since you will have to find a group of carollers! Ask them to come to your door while you are enjoying a cosy night by the fire, drinking mulled wine and chocolates. They could have a sign that says “Happy Holidays” and then, after they are finished singing, they can flip it over to discover the magical words. By that time, you get down on one knee and pop the diamond ring! If you can’t find a group of carollers to help you, you can imitate one of the most famous scenes from Love Actually and be you who is at the door with different signs about your relationship and at the end, the last one will say “Will you marry me?”
On your New Year’s Speech
If you are more of a speech giver and don’t mind being in the spotlight, this proposal is for you! Write the speech in advance if you are not that into improv. You could talk about how amazing the previous year was, mention the moments you shared with your partner and tell them how excited you are to embark into the new year because it will be a new chapter in your life. And just them, when they are wondering what you mean, say their name and ask them to marry you. Your partner will be both surprised and happy!
A New Year Resolution
While you are at home, maybe watching a festive movie and drinking a cup of tea, grab two pieces of paper and ask your partner to join you in writing your New Year’s resolution. When you are both done, ask her or him to pass it on to you and say: “You missed one!” and write “Get Married”. They will be a little bit confused at first but everything will be clear when you show the ring!
Regardless where you propose, whether you are the two of you alone or at a big party, New Year’s Eve is an amazing date to pop the question. Just remember to buy the engagement ring in advance. At Diamonds Factory we have a wide range of diamond engagement rings that are guaranteed to be delivered before New Year’s Eve, so take a look at our website and find the perfect ring.
White Gold Round Side Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
From £826
Oval Halo Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring
From £1,340