Hallmarking

When it comes to manufacturing jewellery and silverware, 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.

Our gold earrings and body jewellery are very dainty so fall below the threshold for mandatory hallmarking (1 gram). However, they are all laser marked with either 9k or 14k to indicate the appropriate gold weight.

As a Scottish brand, Laura Bond is proud to be able to put the Edinburgh Assay Office hallmark on our solid gold rings.

The hallmark is a symbol of quality, a guarantee that our jewellery has been tested and meets the legal standards of purity and fineness.

The Edinburgh Assay Office is the only Assay Office in Scotland. It is responsible for testing and hallmarking gold, silver and platinum jewellery in Scotland, as well as pieces from other parts of the UK and the world.

Every piece of jewellery that is hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office is stamped with a unique mark known as the 'Edinburgh Mark'. It's in the shape of a caste to represent its famous landmark.

Not only is it a mark of quality and craftsmanship, but it is also a symbol of trust and authenticity. We are proud to be able to offer our customers jewellery that has been crafted to the highest standards and hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office.