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Consumer Hub

Here, you’ll find a range of resources to help you, the consumer, make informed choices when buying precious metal jewellery online.
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A Consumer Guide to Hallmarking

This guide, ‘How to Read a Hallmark’, has helpful information about what a hallmark is and what to look out for when shopping for jewellery. 

Assay Assured Copy of Guide to Hallmarking
How to Read a Hallmark

Glossary of Terms

FAQs

News & Updates

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What Is & What is Not a Hallmark?

Before you make your next jewellery purchase, make sure you know what to look out for! Understanding what is and what isn’t a hallmark and how to recognise these marks is essential when shopping for jewellery online.When shopping online, keep two key tips in mind to buy with confidence: Before you buy, ask if it’s […]

Dealer's Notice Render

What is a Dealer’s Notice?

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In the UK, precious metal jewellery descriptions are regulated under the Hallmarking Act of 1973. This ensures consumers are presented with clear and unambiguous descriptions of what they are buying at the point of sale. As part of the Hallmarking Act of 1973, all retailers selling items of precious metal in their shop, whether in-store […]

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Concerned About an Article Without a Hallmark?

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.