Hallmarks
Hallmarks are the oldest form of consumer protection in the UK, dating back nearly 700 years. Every ring we create at Si Vis Amari carries a full UK hallmark, independently tested and verified to confirm the precious metal content is exactly what we say it is. It is not just a legal requirement. It is your guarantee of quality.
Under the Hallmarking Act 1973, it is illegal to sell any item described as gold, silver, platinum or palladium above certain weight thresholds without a legally recognised hallmark. This applies equally to high street shops and online retailers. Our engagement rings and wedding rings are hallmarked through a combination of UK Assay Offices including the Edinburgh Assay Office and the Birmingham Assay Office.
What Is a Hallmark?
A hallmark is a set of marks applied to precious metal jewellery after it has been independently tested by one of the four UK Assay Offices. It confirms that the metal content meets the legal standard of fineness and has been verified by a third party, not just claimed by the seller. Without these marks, a piece of jewellery cannot legally be described or sold as gold, platinum, palladium or silver in the UK.
A complete UK hallmark consists of three compulsory marks.
The Sponsor’s Mark identifies the company or individual responsible for sending the item for hallmarking. It consists of at least two letters inside a unique shield shape. Every sponsor’s mark is registered and traceable.
The Millesimal Fineness Mark shows the precious metal content expressed in parts per thousand. For the metals we use at Si Vis Amari, 750 means 18ct gold (75% pure gold) and 950 means platinum (95% pure platinum). The shape surrounding the number indicates the type of metal.
The Assay Office Mark tells you which of the four UK Assay Offices tested and hallmarked the item. London uses the leopard’s head, Birmingham the anchor, Sheffield the rose, and Edinburgh the castle.
Optional marks such as a date letter (showing the year of hallmarking) and traditional fineness symbols may also appear alongside the three compulsory marks.
Our Metals
Every engagement ring and wedding ring we create is crafted in either platinum 950 or 18ct gold and hallmarked accordingly.
Platinum (950) is the densest and most durable precious metal used in jewellery. It is naturally hypoallergenic, will never fade or change colour, and develops a soft patina over time. The 950 fineness mark confirms a minimum of 95% pure platinum.
18ct White Gold (750) is a high palladium alloy that maintains a silver-white appearance without the need for rhodium plating. Unlike other inferior white gold alloys that yellows over time when the rhodium plating wears off, our white gold holds its colour naturally. The 750 fineness mark confirms a minimum of 75% pure gold.
18ct Yellow Gold (750) is the classic choice, warm in tone and timeless in appearance. The same 750 fineness standard applies.
18ct Rose Gold (750) has a distinctive warm pink hue created by a higher proportion of copper in the alloy. It carries the same 750 hallmark as our other 18ct gold options.
Why Hallmarks Matter When Buying an Engagement Ring & Wedding Rings
It is impossible to determine the precious metal content of a ring by sight or touch alone. A base metal ring with plating can look identical to solid platinum or 18ct gold. The hallmark is your only independent guarantee that what you are buying is genuine. When you spend thousands of pounds on an engagement ring, you should expect nothing less than full, independently verified hallmarking.
Be cautious of online retailers who sell precious metal jewellery without hallmarks. If a ring is described as gold or platinum and weighs above the legal exemption threshold (1 gram for gold, 0.5 grams for platinum), it must carry a hallmark to be legally sold in the UK. Every engagement ring and wedding ring we make exceeds these thresholds and is fully hallmarked before it reaches you.
Dealer’s Notice
Under the Hallmarking Act 1973, all dealers in precious metals are required to display a Dealer’s Notice. The notice below is issued by the Edinburgh Assay Office and is displayed here in accordance with UK law.
Assay Assured
Si Vis Amari is a certified Assay Assured jewellery retailer, independently verified by the Edinburgh Assay Office. This means every precious metal item we sell has been confirmed as accurately described, fully hallmarked and compliant with the Hallmarking Act 1973. Our certification number is 447095.
Our Commitment to Hallmarking
When it comes to manufacturing jewellery, precious metals (silver, palladium, gold, and platinum) are rarely used in their purest form. Instead, they are usually alloyed with lesser metals to achieve a desired strength, durability, and colour.
It is not possible to detect the precious metal content of an item by sight or by touch. It is, therefore, a legal requirement to have items consisting of silver, palladium, gold, or platinum independently tested and then hallmarked before they can be described as such. Items must bear a hallmark at point of sale, subject to the following weight exemptions: silver, mandatory for items above 7.78 grams; gold, mandatory for items above 1 gram; palladium, mandatory for items above 1 gram; platinum, mandatory for items above 0.5 grams.
Si Vis Amari Ltd is registered with the Birmingham Assay Office, ensuring our precious metal jewellery is compliant with the UK’s hallmarking regulations. All stock is subject to an internal confirmation process to ensure it meets the UK’s hallmarking regulations before it is dispatched to our customers. Si Vis Amari Ltd operates a process where all items are hallmarked regardless of weight.
We are an Assay Assured Jewellery Retailer. Assay Assured status is only given to retailers who have been independently audited and verified by Assay Assured which is run and overseen by the Edinburgh Assay Office, and ensures that all precious metal jewellery (except items exempt by weight) are independently tested and hallmarked.
Find out what a hallmark looks like: View the Dealer’s Notice (PDF)
Understanding Hallmarks
This short video from the Edinburgh Assay Office explains how UK hallmarks protect you when buying precious metal jewellery.
Video credit: Edinburgh Assay Office
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 750 mean on a ring?
The number 750 is a millesimal fineness mark indicating 18ct gold. It means the metal contains at least 750 parts per thousand of pure gold, or 75%. All of our 18ct yellow gold, white gold and rose gold engagement rings and wedding rings carry this mark.
What does 950 mean on jewellery?
The number 950 indicates platinum with a fineness of at least 950 parts per thousand, meaning the metal is 95% pure platinum. This is the standard we use for all our platinum rings.
Do all engagement rings have hallmarks?
By law, any ring described as gold, platinum, palladium or silver that exceeds the minimum weight exemption must carry a full UK hallmark. Engagement rings almost always exceed these thresholds. If a retailer is selling a ring described as gold or platinum without a hallmark, they are breaking the law. Every Si Vis Amari ring is fully hallmarked.
What is the difference between a hallmark and a stamp?
A hallmark is applied by an independent UK Assay Office after testing the metal content. A stamp such as 925 or 750 can be applied by the manufacturer and has not been independently verified. Only a full hallmark with a sponsor’s mark, fineness mark and assay office mark constitutes a legal hallmark in the UK.
What is a Dealer’s Notice?
A Dealer’s Notice is a legal requirement under the Hallmarking Act 1973. Any business selling hallmarked precious metals must display this notice where it is visible to customers. For online retailers, this means displaying it on the website. Our Dealer’s Notice is issued by the Edinburgh Assay Office and displayed on this page.
Which Assay Office hallmarks Si Vis Amari rings?
Our rings are hallmarked through a combination of UK Assay Offices including the Edinburgh Assay Office and the Birmingham Assay Office. The assay office mark on your ring will identify which office tested and hallmarked your specific piece.
What are the four UK Assay Offices?
The four UK Assay Offices are London (leopard’s head), Birmingham (anchor), Sheffield (rose) and Edinburgh (castle). Each one is authorised to independently test and hallmark precious metals under the Hallmarking Act 1973.
Is platinum hallmarked differently to gold?
Yes. Platinum and gold use different shaped surrounds on the fineness mark so they can be distinguished at a glance. Platinum uses a specific shape with the number 950, while 18ct gold uses a different shape with the number 750. Both carry the same sponsor’s mark and assay office mark.