Dating british silver hallmarks
Index
- How do I Date my Silver from its hallmark?
- What is the Hallmarking of British silver?
- What is the history of British hallmarks?
- Do I need to hallmark silver in the UK?
- What are silver hallmarks and how do I get them?
- How do you identify antique silver?
- How do you read a silver mark?
- What do the marks on the bottom of silver mean?
- What do antique British silver hallmarks tell us about the item?
- What is the history of hallmarking?
- How do I decipher a set of British hallmarks?
- What do the letters on a British Hallmark mean?
- Do I need a hallmark on my Silver?
- Why do I need to apply a hallmark to my jewellery?
- Is it illegal to sell jewellery without a hallmark?
- What is a hallmark in the UK?
How do I Date my Silver from its hallmark?
To date your silver from its hallmark first identify the assay office (e.g. anchor for Birmingham, leopards head for London, etc.). Then click on the appropriate link below to go to the tables of date letters. If you are unable to identify the assay office from one of the town marks below you may have a piece of imported silver.
What is the Hallmarking of British silver?
The hallmarking of British silver is based on a combination of marks that makes possible the identification of the origin and the age of each silver piece manufactured or traded in the UK. The marks are:
What is the history of British hallmarks?
British hallmarks date back to medieval times. In 1757, counterfeiting hallmarks was made a felony, punishable by death. Traditionally common control marks consisted of four punches. These were: The year of testing. The 1973 Act removed the date from being a compulsory mark. This left just the fineness, assay office, and maker as standard marks.
Do I need to hallmark silver in the UK?
The UK Hallmarking Act (1973) requires all silver items over 7.78 grams to be hallmarked. Hallmarking must be administered by recognised assay offices. . Today there are four UK assay offices: Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield.
What are silver hallmarks and how do I get them?
8am to 10pm - 7 days a week Silver hallmarks are a key part of determining the purity of an item purporting to be made from silver. Hallmarks are legal stamps, applied to items manufactured from a number of precious metals. These include gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
How do you identify antique silver?
In order to properly identify your antique silver pieces, you need to know how to read the hallmark on the item. These stamps indicate the year the item was made, where it was made, and who made it. It can also include a few other pieces, such as a duty mark, although that’s not always the case.
How do you read a silver mark?
One trick to making it a bit easier to read is to gently blow on it. The warmth from your breath will cause condensation, making the mark clearer. There are a number of common marks that appear on many silver pieces.
What do the marks on the bottom of silver mean?
Silver Identification Guide January 1, 2020 The marks on the bottom of a piece of silver can be an indication of the age, maker, and origin of the piece. This mark is referred to as a “hallmark.”
Do I need a hallmark on my Silver?
The UK introduced the 1973 Hallmarking Act to help standardise the industry, and integrate with international hallmarking practices. Since that time any items claiming to be made of silver, that weigh 7.78 grams or more, legally require a hallmark. . . Modern silver hallmarks are far easier to identify.
Why do I need to apply a hallmark to my jewellery?
Online selling of jewellery increases the risk to consumers, but the hallmark gives the buyer confidence that the products are genuinely what they say they are. If a precious metal item weighs less than a certain amount it is not compulsory to apply a hallmark. The minimum weight thresholds are:
Is it illegal to sell jewellery without a hallmark?
If you are sold an item of jewellery made with gold, silver, platinum or palladium over the minimum weight and it is not hallmarked, then the seller is breaking the law. This is regardless of whether the sale is in a shop or online.
What is a hallmark in the UK?
All items (over certain weights) sold in the UK and described as being made from gold, silver, platinum or palladium must have a legally recognised hallmark. The law is set out in the Hallmarking Act 1973 (which has been amended and updated on various occasions). A complete hallmark consists of 3 compulsory marks.
