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
For most, wedding rings represent the start of a new chapter in a couple’s life. The humble wedding ring has evolved throughout history to become what it is today. Wedding rings are still steeped in tradition even though they tend to have a modern appearance. There is no doubt that they serve as a beautiful emblem of love, but in this article, we explain more about wedding ring symbolism and meanings.
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What is a wedding band?
A wedding band is a ring made from precious metal and exchanged between two people in a wedding ceremony. In the UK wedding bands are typically worn on the ring finger of the left hand. Women’s and men’s wedding bands differ slightly in appearance and weight. Both are usually crafted from precious metal and are simple in design. Modern wedding bands may also be adorned with diamonds or shaped to fit together with an engagement ring.
Why is the wedding band circular?
A wedding band is circular to fit the finger, but also as a symbol of infinity - as it has no beginning and no end. It represents eternal love between a couple, as just like the shape, it is never-ending.
Wedding ring symbolism and meanings
Wedding rings symbolise eternal love and commitment within a relationship. This emblem of love is exchanged between two people on their wedding day and worn to show the world they are married. During the wedding service, the couple will say their vows to each other while exchanging rings. The vows include a promise to love each other no matter what and to be faithful and committed forever, and a wedding ring symbolises that promise. Some couples choose to engrave their wedding rings to incorporate a personal message.
Wedding ring materials meaning
The materials used for wedding rings symbolise strength and unbreakable love. Wedding rings are made out of precious metals that are tough to break or damage - representing the unbreakable love a married couple have for one another.
Adding gemstones to wedding rings is not entirely a new thing. Diamond wedding rings have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly for women’s wedding rings as they pair beautifully with almost any engagement ring.
Wedding ring metal types
Wedding rings are crafted from precious metals such as white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and platinum. Yellow gold and white gold are considered traditional choices for wedding bands. Platinum has become the preferred option in recent years, possibly because platinum wedding rings are not only beautiful but also extremely durable. Rose gold wedding rings became popular by those looking for a fashionable alternative to more traditional precious metals.
Diamond wedding rings
Diamond wedding rings are known for their beauty and radiance. While being a popular choice in recent years, diamonds have long been associated with love and romance. In particular, diamonds symbolise eternal love due to their strength and beauty, making them the perfect choice for wedding rings.
Discover our selection of wedding rings online or head to our other article for our top wedding ring engraving ideas.