Hallmarking
Hallmarking Explained
If you’ve ever spotted tiny marks stamped on jewellery and wondered what they actually mean, you’re not alone.
Hallmarking can sound a little technical, but it’s actually there to protect you as the customer.
In simple terms, a hallmark is an official mark that confirms the precious metal content of your jewellery.
So if something is sold as sterling silver, hallmarking helps verify that it genuinely is what it says it is.
A small detail but a very important one.
What Is a Hallmark?
A hallmark is an official stamp applied to precious metals such as silver, gold, platinum and palladium.
In the UK, hallmarking is legally regulated and acts as proof of metal purity.
For sterling silver jewellery, this means the piece has been independently tested and verified to confirm it meets the required silver standard.
So when you see a hallmark, it’s a mark of authenticity, not just decoration.
What Does Sterling Silver Mean?
Sterling silver is made from 92.5% pure silver, combined with a small percentage of other metals (usually copper) to make it durable enough for everyday wear.
Pure silver on its own is beautifully soft but a little too soft for practical jewellery.
Sterling silver gives you the beauty of silver with the strength needed for pieces you can genuinely wear and enjoy.
You may sometimes see sterling silver marked as:
925
That simply refers to the silver purity.
Why Is Hallmarking Important?
Hallmarking protects customers.
It means jewellery sold as precious metal has been independently checked rather than simply labelled by the seller.
That gives you confidence that what you’re buying is genuine.
For handmade jewellery brands like Wild One Jewellery, it’s also part of maintaining trust, quality, and transparency.
Because if I say something is sterling silver, I want you to know it truly is.
Is All Silver Jewellery Hallmarked?
Not always.
In the UK, hallmarking rules depend on the weight of the precious metal.
Silver jewellery weighing under the legal hallmarking threshold may not require hallmarking, even if it is genuine sterling silver.
That doesn’t make it any less real, it simply falls below the legal weight limit.
Larger pieces that exceed the threshold must be hallmarked by law.
Wild One Jewellery & Hallmarking
At Wild One Jewellery, I work with genuine sterling silver and fine silver in my handcrafted jewellery collections.
Where legally required, pieces are hallmarked in accordance with UK hallmarking regulations.
Smaller lightweight pieces may not carry a hallmark simply because they fall below the required hallmarking threshold, not because the silver is any less genuine.
If you’re ever unsure about a specific piece, I’m always happy to help.
Transparency matters.
A Quick Guide to Common Hallmark Symbols
You may see marks including:
925
Sterling silver purity mark
Assay Office Mark
Shows which official assay office tested the piece
Maker’s Mark
Identifies the jewellery maker or sponsor
These tiny marks help tell the story of your jewellery’s authenticity.
Why It Matters
When you buy handmade sterling silver jewellery, you deserve to know exactly what you’re getting.
Hallmarking offers reassurance, accountability and trust.
And while the marks themselves may be tiny, what they represent is something much bigger.
Questions?
If you’re unsure whether a Wild One Jewellery piece is hallmarked, or simply curious about silver quality, please get in touch.
I’m always happy to answer questions, no jargon required.