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
Does your loved one prefer to stray from the norm? If they do, it is most likely that they would favour a non-traditional engagement ring. From ornate vintage styles and gemstones to contemporary designs, we offer a whole host of engagement ring styles that are guaranteed to be as unique as your love.
So if you think that a traditional diamond solitaire engagement ring just won’t cut it for your significant other, read on to discover a non-traditional engagement ring your partner will adore.
Vintage style engagement rings
Does your loved one spend their weekends looking for beautiful antique furniture or do they have a taste for specialist artisan coffee? If they are a firm believer that the key is in the details, then a vintage style engagement ring may be the perfect choice. Show just how well you know their distinct style with a unique and ornate ring. Vintage style rings feature everything your significant other will adore with a ‘more is more’ approach. Think twisted shank designs, diamond embellishments and delicate milgrain detailing. If they are a true romantic at heart select one of our designs and customise it by choosing a pretty rose gold finish.
Yellow diamond engagement rings
If your partner is a little bit fancy, a yellow diamond engagement ring could tick all the right boxes. Heidi Klum, Kelly Clarkson and plenty more celebs are fans of the unique beauty of yellow diamonds. Yellow diamond engagement rings have become increasingly popular in recent years, so they are perfect if your partner is a bit of a trendsetter. If they are a fan of clean and contemporary styles, why not choose a trilogy ring? If they prefer something a little more glamorous, a halo design is a great option.
Bypass shank engagement rings
For those with a love of sleek, minimalistic designs, a bypass shank engagement ring is a great option. This style features one, or multiple, diamonds sandwiched between a bypass shank. The cool, architectural feel of this style will perfectly fit your partner’s preference for modern aesthetics. Customise your selected ring design by choosing a platinum finish, for extra strength, and an elegant, timeless twist that your loved one will adore.
Black diamond engagement rings
A black diamond engagement ring offers a twist on tradition. If your significant other likes to make their own rules when it comes to their style, a beautiful black diamond ring may be the perfect choice for them. We love the style as worn by Carrie Bradshaw (SATC), who received a black diamond solitaire ring in white gold from Mr Big, proving that every stylish and bold woman needs a ring to match.
Gemstone engagement rings
Although we’ve all admired Kate Middleton’s blue sapphire engagement ring, a coloured gemstone engagement ring still feels non-traditional to the vast majority of us. It is probably because we are used to seeing gemstones more often on the red carpet than on a person's wedding finger. That said, a gemstone engagement ring offers an old-world glamour sensibility that your partner is bound to love as much as we do.
SHOP ENGAGEMENT RINGS
White Gold Diamond Engagement Ring
From £1,579
4 Prong Yellow Diamond Halo Engagement Ring
From £1,697