What is Jewellery Hallmarking?
What is Jewellery Hallmarking?
One of the most important factors that sets Zedd apart from other black zirconium businesses is our ability to hallmark each ring in the UK. This is a vital distinction that adds to our appeal among British independent retailers.
Precious metal hallmarking is an age-old practice that plays a critical role in the UK jewellery market. Its role is to ensure the authenticity and quality of gold, platinum and other precious metals through independent testing and to confirm this for the consumer by placing a specific mark (a hallmark) on a piece of jewellery. At its core, hallmarking is all about protecting shoppers from fraud and adhering to a set of legal standards under the Hallmarking Act 1973.
In the early stages of developing Zedd, our team worked closely with both the Birmingham Assay Office and the Sheffield Assay Office – two of the four UK Assay Offices responsible for all hallmarking in the UK – to ensure that every ring in our collection could be hallmarked to their rigorous standards.
Now, if you use a loupe to look at the interior surfaces of Zedd rings, you will see our maker’s mark, the precious metal fineness mark, and the Assay Office mark – all legal requirements – in addition to ‘+ Metal’, which acknowledges the presence of black zirconium in our designs.
A Brief History of Hallmarking
Hallmarking in the UK has a rich history dating back over 700 years. The tradition began in 1300 when King Edward I passed a law requiring all gold and silver items to be tested and marked by official inspectors of the Goldsmiths’ Company in London. This process aimed to protect consumers from fraud and maintain the integrity of the British precious metal trade. Over the centuries, hallmarking evolved to include other precious metals like platinum and palladium, reflecting changes in consumer demand and technological advancements.
What Should Hallmarks Look Like?
It all depends on your chosen piece of jewellery. For example, 9ct yellow gold and platinum will require different marks, as would 18ct gold or silver. A complete hallmark consists of several combinations of letters, numbers and symbols, all of which have a meaning. The important ones to note are the numbers that denote the fineness of the precious metal included in your Zedd ring:
- 925 – silver
- 375 – 9ct gold
- 750 – 18ct gold
- 950 – Platinum
Why Is Hallmarking Important for Zedd Customers?
As a proud British manufacturer of fine jewellery, we know it is our legal responsibility to hallmark all the rings that we produce before they are made available for sale. But our motivations were stronger when it came to developing and launching Zedd. Our signature black zirconium is not a traditional precious metal, which made combining this material with silver, gold and platinum more challenging. We decided to invest time and energy into partnering with two Assay Offices to pinpoint ways of applying hallmarks to Zedd jewellery, no matter what combinations of metals a ring contains.
The results speak for themselves and help to distinguish Zedd as a trustworthy and authentic brand. Unlike other black zirconium ring suppliers, we can guarantee a British-made and UK-hallmarked piece of jewellery that’s made to exceptional standards. This is exactly why our brand is sold by more than 300 independent retailers, both nationally and internationally.
Where Can I Find More Information?
All four of the UK Assay Offices have extensive information on their websites, so you can take a deep dive into this ancient process. The British Hallmarking Council also offers advice whether you’re shopping in-store or online. Remember, you are well within your rights to ask if a piece of jewellery is hallmarked and ask to see the hallmarks for yourself. They can be minuscule and impossible to see with the naked eye, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for a jeweller’s loupe – a small magnifying glass – to see the details. If in doubt, speak to your nearest Zedd retailer to find out more [[https://zedd-jewellery.myshopify.com/pages/stockists]].
Images courtesy of Birmingham Assay Office and Sheffield Assay Office.
