A hallmark indicates that an item has been independently tested at an official Assay office, and guarantees that it conforms to the legal standards of purity for that precious metal.
 
The hallmark comprises of a series of stamps indicating:
- the maker e.g. ERC for Elinor Cambray
- the traditional metal fineness e.g. a lion for sterling silver
- the metal’s purity e.g. 925 for sterling silver
- the assay office where the piece was tested e.g. a leopards head for London, anchor for Birmingham
- the date the item was made e.g. the letter z for 2024 

My jewellery is hallmarked at the Birmingham Assay Office. The metal is tested and then stamped with the corresponding hallmark.
The majority of my work is hallmarked, with the exception of some smaller items such as silver earrings which weigh less than 7.8 grams. This is the maximum legal limit for un-hallmarked pieces in sterling silver, and pieces which are too delicate to stamp, such as earring wires. The maximum legal limit for un-hallmarked pieces in gold is 1.0 grams, and in platinum is 0.5 grams.
If you have any questions regarding whether a piece is hallmarked, please contact me.  For further information please visit www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk