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
With the biggest shopping event of the year nearly here, we’ve curated a selection of our favourite jewellery pieces for you to shop for less. Whether you're looking to pop the question, find the perfect Christmas gift, or add a little sparkle to your own wardrobe, we've got it all this Black Friday — at unbeatable prices, too. Ready to shop and save? Here are DF’s best Black Friday jewellery picks!
White Gold Round Diamond Engagement Ring
From £408
White Gold Round Side Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
From £833
Pave Setting Half Eternity Diamond Ring
From £262
4 Prong Setting Full Eternity Diamond Ring
From £397
4 Prong Setting Round Diamond Stud Earring
From £138
Diamon Crossiant half hoop earring
From £656
Love Script Necklace
From £135
4 Prong Setting Solitaire Pendant
From £197
Diamond Tennis Bracelet 8ct Look in 1.00ct & silver
From £490
Bezel Setting Diamond Everyday Bracelet
From £210
Classic swirl Pearl Pendant
From £130
Emerald classic floral delicate chain bracelet
From £206
Prong Setting Solitaire Engagement Ring
Studded Flat Profile Diamond Shaped Band
Illusion Setting Half Eternity Diamond Ring
Initial Pendant Necklace
Bezel Setting Diamond Everyday Bracelet
Bezel Look Necklace and Earring Set
Prong Setting Pear Ruby Pendant
Split Prong Setting Diamond Hoop Earrings
With our incredible selection of must-have jewellery pieces available to shop this Black Friday, it’s time to start adding to that wishlist! Be sure to look out for all of our dazzling deals coming soon.