Hallmarking Act 1973
The Hallmarking Act 1973 controls the hallmarking, assaying and description of articles made of, or containing, gold, silver or platinum items. The Act lays down definitions of the terms 'sterling' or 'Britannia' for silver, and of 9, 18, 22 (etc.) carat for gold. Any new item of silver, gold or platinum must be hallmarked before sale unless exempted because of weight, size or is too thin to be hallmarked. It is an offence to describe an item that is not hallmarked as being wholly, or partly, made of gold, silver, or platinum, subject to exceptions for the use of 'rolled gold' and 'gold/silver/platinum plated'.
Dealers in precious metal must display a sign illustrating the approved hallmarks.
Since 1999 items tested and marked in another EU member state under equivalent hallmarking arrangements can now be sold in the UK.
For more information contact the Trading Standards Service or the British Hallmarking Council.
