Hallmarking Act 1973

Section 4.

SCHEDULE 2Approved Hallmarks

PART IArticles Comprised of a Single Precious Metal

Assay office mark

1

Standard mark

2

Date letter

3Such distinct variable letter of the alphabet to denote the year in which the article is marked as may be for the time being directed in writing by the Council.

PART IIArticles Comprised of Two or More Precious Metals

4An article comprised of two or more precious metals shall be hallmarked only if—

(1)it is of a description specified in one or other of the following sub-paragraphs ; and

(2)it complies with paragraph 5 of this Schedule,

and shall be hallmarked only in the manner specified for an article of that description—

(a)where gold parts exceed 50 per cent, by weight of a whole article, which also contains platinum but not silver parts, the gold parts shall be hallmarked as if they comprised a separate article ;

(b)where silver parts exceed 50 per cent, by weight of a whole article which also contains gold or platinum parts or both such parts, the silver parts shall be hallmarked as if they comprised a separate article ;

(c)where any small working parts (which for technical reasons cannot be made of the same standard of fineness or of the same precious metal as the remainder of the article) form part of an article of which the remainder is of a higher standard of fineness or of a more precious metal, the part which is of the higher standard of fineness or (as the case may be) of the more precious metal shall be hallmarked as if it comprised a separate article and the parts which are of the lower standard of fineness or of the less precious metal shall be struck only with the standard mark for the metal of which those parts are made. For the purposes of this sub-paragraph platinum shall be deemed more precious than gold or silver and gold be deemed more precious than silver; and “more precious ” and “less precious ” shall be construed accordingly;

(d)where any article of silver is coated in whole or in part with gold, the article shall be hallmarked as if it were comprised only of silver; and

(e)where any article of gold, silver or platinum is coated in whole or in part with rhodium, the article shall be hallmarked as if it were comprised only of gold, silver or platinum (as the case may be) ;

and in relation to any article of the description of sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of this paragraph the precious metal of the part of the article which is not (in terms of sub-paragraph (a)) of gold or not (in terms of sub-paragraph (b)) of silver may, at the discretion of the assay office, be marked only with the standard mark.

5The parts of platinum, of gold or platinum, of less precious metal and the gold coating referred to respectively in sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the last foregoing paragraph shall each be of a standard of fineness not less than the minimum fineness for that metal mentioned in column (2) of paragraph 2 of this Schedule.

PART IIIArticles Comprised of Precious Metal and Other Materials

6An article comprised of precious metal and one or more other materials (in this paragraph referred to as “other materials ”) shall be hallmarked as if the precious metal were comprised in a separate article if, but only if, it complies with one or other of the following sub-paragraphs—

(a)where the other materials include base metal, the article shall be hallmarked only if the use of the base metal in the manufacture of the article is authorised by regulations made by the Council (or, in relation to any single article, is approved by the Council)—

(i)as being reasonably required to fulfil the purpose for which the article is designed to be used; and

(ii)as satisfying the requirement that the part composed of base metal should be clearly distinguishable in appearance (either by the colour of that part or by having struck thereon the word “metal” in manner consonant with any regulations made by the Council) from any part which is of precious metal of minimum fineness.

(b)where the other materials do not include base metal, the article shall be hallmarked only on the precious metal part thereof and only if—

(i)those materials are clearly distinguishable from any part of the article which is of precious metal and they are not plated or of a colour to resemble any precious metal and their extent is clearly visible, or

(ii)in respect of any article wherein the other materials are wholly or mainly enclosed by precious metal, the article has been so manufactured as to be capable of being hallmarked before it is filled and (except in the case of a handle to a knife, fork or spoon where the quantity of filling in the handle is not more than is necessary for joining) there has been struck thereon the word “filled ” in manner consonant with any regulations made by the Council.

In this paragraph “base metal” means any metal other than gold, silver or platinum of at least the minimum fineness therefor.

PART IVGeneral

7Each of the marks comprising the approved hallmarks shall be enclosed by such shield or other border as the Council may (if they see fit) for the time being specify by directions to the assay offices.