Hallmarking Information
At Stephen Barnett Jewellery, we fully support and comply with our legal responsibility to hallmark all applicable precious metal work created through commissions, repairs, and bespoke manufacture.
Hallmarking is not just a legal requirement in the UK — it is an important guarantee of authenticity, quality, and metal purity, independently verified by an official Assay Office.
What is Hallmarking?
A hallmark is a set of official marks applied to precious metal items such as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.
These marks confirm that the item has been independently tested and verified by an Assay Office to meet strict legal standards of fineness and metal content.
Hallmarking protects customers and ensures transparency and trust within the jewellery industry.
Why Hallmarking Matters
Hallmarking provides assurance that:
The metal content of your jewellery is genuine
The item has been independently tested
The piece meets UK legal standards
You are protected as a consumer against misrepresentation
In the UK, precious metal items above certain weight thresholds must be hallmarked before being legally sold.
The Components of a Hallmark
A UK hallmark typically consists of three compulsory elements:
Sponsor’s Mark – identifies the maker or company
Fineness Mark – shows the purity of the metal (e.g. 375, 750, 925)
Assay Office Mark – identifies where the item was tested (e.g. London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh)
Some items may also include optional marks such as date letters or special commemorative symbols.
At Stephen Barnett Jewellery, we fully support and comply with our legal responsibility to hallmark all applicable precious metal work created through commissions, repairs, and bespoke manufacture.
Hallmarking is not just a legal requirement in the UK — it is an important guarantee of authenticity, quality, and metal purity, independently verified by an official Assay Office.
What is Hallmarking?
A hallmark is a set of official marks applied to precious metal items such as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.
These marks confirm that the item has been independently tested and verified by an Assay Office to meet strict legal standards of fineness and metal content.
Hallmarking protects customers and ensures transparency and trust within the jewellery industry.
Why Hallmarking Matters
Hallmarking provides assurance that:
The metal content of your jewellery is genuine
The item has been independently tested
The piece meets UK legal standards
You are protected as a consumer against misrepresentation
In the UK, precious metal items above certain weight thresholds must be hallmarked before being legally sold.
The Components of a Hallmark
A UK hallmark typically consists of three compulsory elements:
Sponsor’s Mark – identifies the maker or company
Fineness Mark – shows the purity of the metal (e.g. 375, 750, 925)
Assay Office Mark – identifies where the item was tested (e.g. London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh)
Some items may also include optional marks such as date letters or special commemorative symbols.
Assay Office Notice (Notice B)
In accordance with UK hallmarking regulations, dealers and jewellers are required to display an official Assay Office notice informing customers about hallmarking laws and marks.
You can view and download the official Assay Office Notice B here
This notice provides important consumer information about how to identify hallmarks and understand precious metal standards.
Our Hallmarking Commitment
At Stephen Barnett Jewellery:
All applicable bespoke commissions are submitted to an Assay Office for hallmarking
We ensure compliance with all UK Hallmarking Act requirements
We work only with recognised Assay Offices in the UK
We prioritise transparency and legal compliance in all precious metal work
Hallmarking is applied after manufacturing and before final delivery or collection.
Hallmarking Guidance & Further Information
To learn more about UK hallmarking rules and regulations, you can visit the official London Assay Office guidance here.
This explains the legal framework, marking system, and consumer protections in more detail.
Customer-Owned Items
Where we are asked to work on customer-owned jewellery or materials, all work is carried out with the utmost care.
However:
Customer-owned items are accepted entirely at the owner’s risk
We cannot guarantee against loss or damage to supplied materials, stones, or finished items during the course of work
By commissioning work, the customer accepts these terms
Important Notice
Hallmarks are applied by independent Assay Offices only and cannot be applied by the maker.
Each hallmark guarantees that the item has been independently tested and meets UK legal standards of precious metal fineness and authenticity.
Related Information
For further details, please also refer to:
These documents outline how we handle customer data, services, and legal responsibilities.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding hallmarking or your jewellery commission:
Stephen Barnett Jewellery
stephen@stephenbarnettjewellery.co.uk
stephenbarnettjewellery.com