When you invest in a piece of fine jewellery, you want to be certain of its quality and authenticity. This is where UK hallmarking comes into play — a practice steeped in history, offering absolute peace of mind.
At Nude Jewellery, we’re proud of the precious metals we work with, and every piece of our fine jewellery weighing over the legal threshold carries a full set of UK hallmarks. But what exactly are these tiny marks, and what do they mean?
What is UK Hallmarking?
In the UK, hallmarking is a legal requirement for items made of precious metals — gold, silver, platinum, and palladium — that are above a certain weight. It’s a consumer protection measure, guaranteeing the purity of the metal used. Unlike some other countries where manufacturers can self-certify, here in the UK an independent third party — known as an Assay Office — tests and marks every single piece.
There are four Assay Offices in the UK: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Edinburgh. Each has its own unique town mark, telling you exactly where your piece was tested and hallmarked.
Decoding Your Hallmarks
A full UK hallmark typically consists of several compulsory marks, each telling a vital part of your jewellery’s story.
1. Sponsor’s Mark (Maker’s Mark)
The unique mark of the company or individual who submitted the item for hallmarking — usually two or more letters within a shield. For Nude Jewellery pieces, this mark identifies us as the maker.
2. Standard Purity Mark
This indicates the precious metal and its purity in parts per thousand. Here’s what the numbers mean in practice:
Gold — traditional symbol: a crown
- 375 = 9ct gold (37.5% pure gold)
- 585 = 14ct gold (58.5% pure gold)
- 750 = 18ct gold (75% pure gold) — used in all Nude Jewellery gold pieces
- 916 = 22ct gold (91.6% pure gold)
Gold also comes in yellow, white, and rose — the colour is determined by the alloy metals used, not the purity. White gold is yellow gold mixed with white metals such as palladium, then typically rhodium plated for a bright finish.
Silver — traditional symbol: the lion passant
- 925 = Sterling silver (92.5% pure silver, alloyed with copper for strength)
Platinum — traditional symbol: an orb and cross
- 950 = Platinum (95% pure — significantly purer than 18ct gold, and naturally white with no plating required)
Palladium — traditional symbol: Pallas Athena
- 500 or 950 = Palladium
3. Assay Office Mark
This symbol tells you which UK Assay Office tested your jewellery.
- London: A leopard’s head
- Birmingham: An anchor
- Sheffield: A rose
- Edinburgh: A castle
All Nude Jewellery pieces are hallmarked at the London Assay Office.
4. Date Letter
This optional but commonly used mark indicates the year the item was hallmarked — a single letter that changes annually on 1st January. The font style and shield shape also change each year, adding a fascinating historical detail to your piece. Use the chart below to identify when your jewellery was hallmarked.
Why Hallmarking Matters
For us at Nude Jewellery, hallmarking isn’t just a legal obligation — it’s a testament to our commitment to quality, integrity, and transparency. When you choose a piece from our collection, you’re investing in unique design and meticulous craftsmanship, backed by the assurance of the UK’s rigorous hallmarking system.
These small, intricate stamps are your guarantee that the precious metal in your piece is exactly what we say it is — a mark of trust passed down through centuries'
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