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, platinum or palladium. The key mark to look for is the Common Control Mark. The three other marks must also be present.

Sponsor's or Makers Mark

Common Control Marks

Examples of Assay Office Marks

United Kingdom

*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):

Country Convention (CCM) National Hallmark Assay Office Mark Austria Yes No   Cypress Yes Yes   Czech Republic Yes No   Denmark Yes Yes   Estonia No Yes   Finland Yes Yes   France No No   Hungary Yes No   Ireland Yes Yes   Israel Yes No   Latvia Yes Yes   Lithuania Yes Yes   Netherlands Yes Yes   Norway Yes No   Malta No 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.