As a consumer, you have a legal right to the independent guarantee that a hallmark provides. If you have purchased from an Assay Assured Jewellery Retailer, they have made a commitment to the Assay Assured code of conduct to ensure all product sold is compliant.

Here is your checklist whenever you purchase a piece of precious metal jewellery.

1. Before you buy, look around the supplier’s site to see if they provide any information about hallmarking. It is a legal requirement for anyone selling precious metal jewellery to display information about hallmarking in the form of a dealers’ notice (pop-up with notices) . Whenever you see the Assay Assured Trustmark, it means the retailer complies with our code of conduct.
2. When you receive your jewellery, check it to see if it carries a hallmark. If it weighs less than the limits above, it may not require one.
3. If the precious metal weight is greater than above the item should have a hallmark.
4. If you have bought an item that is not exempt by weight, and there is no hallmark, then the company you have purchased may be guilty of an offence under the 1973 Hallmarking Act.
5. In the first instance, you should contact the company you have purchased from with your concern.
6. If after you have contacted the company and they have responded to your query, you are still not satisfied, you should:
   
   1. If the company displays the Assay Assured Jewellery Retailer trust mark you can contact us to make an independent assessment on your behalf.
   2. If the company you have purchased from is not an Assay Assured Jewellery Retailer you should contact your local trading standards department.