Guide to Gold Hallmarks

‘Hallmark’ is a common terminology and we have all heard it sometime or the other. But how many of us actually understand or know what it is. Another aspect of common observation is that it is often used with respect to mostly gold and in some cases other precious metals. Now what is a hallmark? Hallmarks or hallmarking is a standard official quality control mark that determines the purity of gold and other precious metals. It is a proof of the fact that the gold or any other precious metal in the jewelry has been evaluated and adheres to international standards in terms of purity. Apart from the purity the hallmark also contains other information like name of manufacturer, date of manufacture, etc.

Every hallmark can be split into five parts. Understanding each of these parts will help you to interpret the hallmark correctly. The first part is the symbol or logo of a country’s standard. The second part is about the fineness of the metal which is represented in carats. The third part is the logo of the assaying center which has conducted the certification. The fourth part is the symbol of the manufacturer while the last and fifth part usually indicates the year of manufacture.

Whenever you need to ascertain the value of gold, it is important to know the weight and quality of gold. This is where hallmarks come handy. All gold jewelry have marks engraved that signify the purity of the metal. Gold items have rectangular stamps, while silver ones have oval ones and platinum items have house shaped stamps. The Hallmark Act of 1973 makes it mandatory to use these designated shapes for stamps of these respective metals that are indicative of the purity of the metal. Most countries have their own hallmarking standards so there could be a difference in the hallmarks of jewelry made in different countries.

Some of the commonly followed standards for gold are listed below: