Are your items all hallmarked?

If I sell a sterling silver piece that weighs OVER 7.78g in the UK (not including the weight of any added gemstones, enamel, pearls etc) it must be hallmarked. This means I must be registered with one of the 4 UK assay offices and send off every piece to be tested and lasered with my makers mark, the assay office mark, the metal purity and the date. This is a true hallmark and can only be done at an assay office. ANY OTHER mark applied anywhere other than an assay office is not a hallmark. It is just a stamp with no legal standing. I am registered with Edinburgh and I send all my pieces over the exemption weight of 7.78g (excluding gemstones etc.) to them and they are all hallmarked.

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Sterling silver items UNDER 7.78g  (excluding gemstones, enamels etc.) I do not have hallmarked. I may sign them with my signature punch but they will not be sent off for assay and hallmarking. 

Why not?

It would cost me thousands of pounds every year to pay to have everything packed up, posted, tested hallmarked and sent back to me. I am very glad to be able to make this saving for items under the exemption weight and keep on making jewellery. My overheads are higher than they have ever been and I am so glad that I can make a decent, legal saving here without compromising on my lovely high quality recycled (not mined)  silver, sourcing eco friendly packaging and spending hours sourcing ethically produced gemstones.

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Gold & other precious metals​

All have their own legal exemption weight for hallmarking, I have focussed on silver to make things simpler, but to see the full list of metals, weight and images of assay office hallmarks please see the PDF below.