A Beginner's Guide To Gold Hallmarks

Gold hallmarks are small marks stamped on gold jewellery that indicate the purity of the gold and the manufacturer of the piece. These marks are used to ensure that gold jewellery is made with the advertised amount of gold and to protect consumers from fraud.  

There are several types of gold hallmarks, including standard marks, sponsor's marks, and assay office marks. Standard marks indicate the purity of the gold, with common marks including 9ct, 14ct, 18ct, and 22ct. These marks indicate the percentage of gold in the piece, with 9K being the lowest at 37.5% gold and 22ct being the highest at 91.6% gold.

Sponsor's marks are the manufacturer's mark and are used to identify the maker of the piece. These marks are usually the company's initials or a symbol that represents the company. Assay office marks are used to indicate the location where the piece was tested for gold purity.

To understand the hallmark, you need to know the standard marks and the assay office mark. The standard mark will indicate the gold purity, the sponsor's mark will indicate the maker of the piece, and the assay office mark will indicate where the piece was tested for gold purity.

In addition, certain countries have their own hallmarking systems, such as the UK with the Anchor, Leopard head, and the Lion passant. These hallmarks are specific to the UK and indicate that the piece has been tested and meets the standard for gold purity set by the country.

It is worth noting that the standard marks may vary slightly between countries. For example, in the UK, 15ct gold is a common hallmark, which is equivalent to 62.5% gold. This mark is no longer used in most countries, and thus it can be used as a way to date a piece of jewellery. If a piece is marked with 15ct, it is likely to be an older piece as this standard is no longer in use. it was phased out in the early 20th century as it was replaced by higher gold purity hallmarks such as 18ct and 9ct. The exact date of when the 15ct gold hallmark was phased out may vary depending on the country, but it is no longer used in most countries today. Overall, gold hallmarks provide important information about the purity, maker and origin of a piece of gold jewellery. They are useful for consumers and also for collectors and dealers in identifying, authenticating and valuing gold jewellery.

It is important to note that not all gold jewellery will have hallmarks, especially older pieces or those made in countries without strict hallmarking laws. However, having a hallmark on a piece of gold jewellery can provide peace of mind for consumers, knowing that the piece is made with the advertised amount of gold and is not a counterfeit.

In short, gold hallmarks are small marks stamped on gold jewellery that indicate the purity of the gold and the manufacturer of the piece. They are used to ensure that gold jewellery is made with the advertised amount of gold and to protect consumers from fraud. These hallmarks include standard marks, sponsor's marks, and assay office marks. It is important to note that not all gold jewellery will have hallmarks.