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Java-E UK - How Are Items Hallmarked ?
There are two ways of hallmarking; the first is a conventional traditional "Punch" which stamps the hallmarks onto the item, and the second is a laser which indents the hallmarks into the item. Both types are equally valid and accepted as authentic hallmarks.
We use laser hallmarking for all of our hallmarked items because traditional punches often disfigure or misshape the item being stamped (as punches use a significant amount of force). Laser hallmarks are also much clearer and easier to read than traditional punched hallmarks. Traditional punches leave behind a dent in the item, but laser punches do not.
We have our own graphite template which the Assay Office holds and uses on our behalf for our items to perform all of our laser hallmarking.
There are two different shapes of punch/laser-markers; cranked (for marking rings and other arc'd items), and straight (for all other items) - we leave it to the discretion of the Assay Office as to which of those two shapes they decide to use for a given item as they are experts in their field.
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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