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International Convention Marks

 

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION MARKS


International Convention Marks

Since 1972 the UK has been a signatory to the International Convention on Hallmarks. This means that UK Assay Offices can apply the Common Control Mark which will then be recognised by all member countries in the Convention. Conversely, Convention Hallmarks that have been applied in other member countries are recognised in the UK.

Some of The Assay Office marks of member countries of the Convention are illustrated below. The shield design around the Assay Office mark may vary according to whether the article is gold, silver or platinum. The key mark to look for is the Common Control Mark. The three other marks must also be present.

New Type 2 Common Control Mark introduced.

A new type 2 standardised CCM mark: The type 1 or traditional CCM conformity mark uses a different shield shape for each precious metal. It also always contains the millesimal fineness of the alloy.  The new type 2 or standardised CCM mark is a single generic conformity mark used for all precious metals and finenesses.  It must be accompanied by a mark specifying the millesimal fineness of the alloy and a unique mark for each precious metal or the chemical symbol for the precious metal.  These accompanying fineness and metal identifying marks can be separate or combined.

 

Sponsor's or Makers Mark

Common Control Marks

Common Control Marks 

The Member Countries of the Convention are:
Austria Lithuania
Croatia The Netherlands
Cyprus Norway
Czech Republic Poland
Denmark Portugal
Finland Slovak Republic
Hungary Slovenia
Ireland Sweden
Israel Switzerland
Latvia United Kingdom

 

 

United Kingdom

                                                                    United Kingdom Marks

*The hallmark guarantees that the purity of the metal is at least that indicated by the fineness number.

 

Recognition of EU/EEA Hallmarks

Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice, the UK is required to accept other national hallmarks where the CCM is not present. Under the guidelines of the British Hallmarking Council, those countries with national hallmarks deemed equivalent to UK hallmarks are listed in the table below (July 2014).  If you would like to find out more please visit www.hallmarkingconvention.org/members.php

Country
Convention (CCM)
National
Hallmark
Assay Office Mark
Austria
Yes
No
 
Croatia
Yes
Yes
 
Cypres
Yes
Yes
 
Czech Republic
Yes
Yes
 
Denmark
Yes
Yes
 
Estonia
No
Yes
        estonia
Finland
Yes
Yes
 
France
No
Yes
        
Hungary
Yes
No
 
Ireland
Yes
Yes
 
Israel
Yes
Yes
 
Latvia
Yes
Yes
 
Lithuania
Yes
Yes
 
Netherlands
Yes
Yes
 
Norway
Yes
No
 
Malta
Yes
No
 
Poland
Yes
No
 
Portugal
Yes
Yes
 
Slovakia
Yes
No
 
Slovenia
Yes
No
 
Spain
No
Yes (A1, V1, M1, C1, C2)*
 
Sweden
Yes
No
 
Switzerland
Yes
Yes
 
United Kingdom
Yes
Yes
 

* Andalucía, Valencia, Madrid and Catalonia.

 

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