Convention Marks
Convention Marks
As an alternative to the traditional UK Hallmarks articles may be marked with a Convention Hallmark which may have been applied by any one of the countries included in the International Convention on Hallmarking.
The United Kingdom has been a signatory to the International Convention on Hallmarks since 1972. This means that UK Assay Offices can strike the Convention Hallmark which will then be recognised by all member countries in the International Convention. Conversely, Convention Hallmarks from other member countries are legally recognised in the UK. Articles bearing the Convention Hallmark do not have to be re-hallmarked in the UK.
Click here to download the Convention Hallmarking Brochure
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Sponsors or
Makers Mark |
Common
Control Mark |
Fineness
(Purity) Mark |
Assay Office
Mark |
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Some of The Assay Office marks of member countries of the Convention are illustrated below. The shield design around the Assay Office mark may vary according to whether the article is gold, silver or platinum. The key mark to look for is the Common Control Mark. The three other marks must also be present. |
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Sponsor's or Makers Mark |
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Common Control Marks |
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Fineness (purity) Mark* |
Gold |
Silver |
Platinum |
375 |
800 |
850 |
585 |
925 |
900 |
750 |
999 |
950 |
916 |
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999 |
999 |
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The Member Countries of the Convention are: |
| Austria |
Lithuania |
| Czech Republic |
The Netherlands |
| Denmark |
Norway |
| Finland |
Poland |
| Hungary |
Portugal |
| Ireland |
Sweden |
| Israel |
Switzerland |
| Latvia |
United Kingdom |
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Examples of Assay Office Marks |
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Austria |
Czech Republic |
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Denmark |
Finland |
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Ireland |
Netherlands |
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Norway |
Portugal |
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Sweden |
Switzerland |
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Latvia
joined in 2004 |
Lithuania
joined in 2004 |
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Hungary |
Poland |
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Israel |
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United Kingdom |
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Birmingham |
Edinburgh |
London |
Sheffield |
| *The hallmark guarantees that the purity of the metal is at least that indicated by the fineness number. |
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Convention Marking |
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Total U.K.
Convention
Marks '000s |
Total
U.K. Hallmark
'000s |
Convention Marks % of Total U.K. Marks |
1992 |
967 |
19,317 |
5.0% |
1993 |
1,458 |
19,864 |
7.3% |
1994 |
3,265 |
21,221 |
15.4% |
1995 |
10,984 |
22,581 |
48.6% |
1996 |
13,505 |
23,600 |
57.0% |
1997 |
13,894
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26,602 |
52.2% |
1998 |
15,750
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29,505 |
53.3% |
1999 |
18,256 |
30,272 |
60.3% |
2000 |
22,831 |
32,097 |
71.1% |
2001 |
22,923 |
34,364 |
66.7% |
2002 |
22,552 |
34,170 |
65.9% |
2003 |
22,733 |
35,245 |
64.5% |
2004 |
22,251 |
34,753 |
64.0% |
2005 |
17,314 |
28,767 |
60.2% |
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