Our Story

250 ICONIC years

1773
1784
1824
1854
1855
1890
1932
1934
1973
1975
1975- April
1998
2009

1773

The Act of May 1773 established Assay Offices in both Birmingham and Sheffield.

 

1784

Introduction of duty on both silver (6d per ounce) and gold (8 /- per ounce) and the duty mark represented by the King’s head in profile.

 

 

1824

 Birmingham empowered to hallmark gold.

 

1854

Introduction of 15, 12 and 9 carat gold.

 

1854

 

1855

The Gold Wedding Ring Act now required all wedding rings to be hallmarked.

 

1855

 

 

1890

Duty was removed on gold and silver- the duty mark no longer stamped.

 

 

1932


15 and 12 carat gold discontinued and 14 carat introduced.

our-story-1932

 

1934


The first commemorative voluntary mark commemorating George V and Queen Mary’s silver
jubilee.

our-story-1934

 

1973

Birmingham and Sheffield Assay Offices commemorated their bi-centenary with special marks, Birmingham had a letter ‘c’ either side of the anchor and Sheffield used their 1773 date letter ‘E’ again.

our-story-1973

 

1975

The introduction of the 1973 Hallmarking Act all Assay Offices date letters now standardised
and all change on January 1st. Platinum became a hallmarkable metal.

our-story-1975

 

 

1975 – April


On April 1st the British Government ratified the International Convention on Hallmarking.

our-story-1975a

 

 

1998

Introduction of amendments to the 1973 Hallmarking Act. Including introduction of new
standards of gold, silver and platinum (to harmonise with Europe) also the abolition of import marks.
Date letter and standard mark become optional.

our-story-1998

 

 

 

2009


Palladium becomes a hallmarkable metal (compulsory after 1st January 2010).

our-story-2009

 

 

 

While we are immensely proud of our storied past, we are equally committed to embracing the future. Innovation is at the core of what we do. We’ve seamlessly integrated cutting-edge technology, making us more efficient and environmentally responsible while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and precision.