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Java-E UK - What Happens After Hallmarking/Testing
Testing for hallmarking involves taking small slivers/scratches of the item, so when we receive the marked/tested items from the Assay Office, we review the outcome of the testing and any damage which may have been caused by the entire testing/marking process.
After we have reviewed the item, we will do one of the following:
1. If the item passed testing and is not damaged, then we will finish/polish the item and then sell it as tested/hallmarked Silver.
2. If the item failed testing (i.e. failed a purity test etc), then we will put it into a "Bargain Bin" for our customers, and sell it as (Non-Silver) Costume Jewellery. We will then review why it failed the test and take steps to make sure the failure does not occur in future items.
3. If damaged, but economically repairable, we will take the item to a finisher/polisher so that it's in perfect condition for sale.
4. If the item passed testing but was damaged beyond economical repair, we will either discard the item entirely, or we will put it into a "Bargain Bin" for our customers with a full description of the damage.
NOTE: The Java-E UK "Bargain Bin" items are clearly marked and described on the product browsing pages and all other pages which show those items. A "Bargain Bin" item has the words "Bargain Bin" in large letters shown right next to the picture/description of the item, along with "DAMAGED" or "NOT SILVER" (or similar relevant description) shown in text next to "Bargain Bin", and the detailed description will give full details of the reason that the item is in the Bargain Bin.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT: The UK has probably the most stringent precious metal and hallmarking consumer laws in the world. No items which are over a certain weight (about 7 grams) can be sold as Silver, Gold, or Platinum in the UK unless they have been hallmarked by one of the 4 UK Assay Offices, and it is the Assay Offices who perform all the purity tests for the relevant items. As we sell from the UK, we are subject to these stringent laws, and we are happy that such laws protect all UK jewellery customers, and that as a result of these laws, UK hallmarked items have probably the best provenance in the world.
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