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History of silver hallmarking:
The History of hallmarking dates back to 1300 when a statute of Edward 1 instituted the assaying (testing) and marking of precious metals. The original aim of the system remains unchanged; the protection of the public against fraud and of the trader against unfair competition. Indeed, hallmarking is one of the oldest forms of consumer protection.
Hallmarking is as necessary today as it was in 1300 because when the jewellery and silverware are manufactured, precious metals are not used in their pure form, as they are too soft. Gold, silver, and platinum are always alloyed with copper or other metals to create an alloy that is more suitable to the requirements of the jeweller. Such an alloy needs to be strong, workable yet attractive.
Owing to the high value of Gold, Platinum and Silver, there are significant profits to be gained by reducing the precious metal content of an alloy at the manufacturing stage. Base metal articles plated with a thin coat of gold or silver look like the same articles made wholly of precious metal; at least until the plating wears even and expert cannot determine the quality or standard of precious metal items by eye or touch.
The stature of 1300 allowed the wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths in London to go out to workshops in the City and assay silver and gold. However, only silver that met the required standard was marked at this time with the symbol of the Leopard’s head which is still the mark of the London Assay Office today. Gradually gold came to be marked in the same way as silver. |
