NEW SILVER HALLMARKS 1999.

Many peopleseemunaware that silver like gold,has different grades and qualities.

Gold has an easy to readnumerical hallmarking system: 9, 14, 18 and 22 carat.

Silver now has a numerical hallmarking system as well: 800, 925, 958 and 999.

The European Union was well aware ofcustomer dissatisfaction and confusionwith the old system and forcibly introduced onto the UK government an easy to readnumerical hallmarking system for silver.

FromJanuary 1st 1999 all British hallmarks must conform with the newEU law.

Sincethat date any silveritem assayed in the UK must have a numerical hallmark confirming the percentage of silver in the article.

Traditional marksare still allowed to be used alongside the new numerical marks.

As before every single item is independently assayed in a regional assay officemaking UK hallmarks the safest quality markin the world.

New Numerical Marks from 1st January 1999

1. 999: 99.9%pure, the highest purity

2. 958: 95.8%pure, the old Britannia purity

3. 925:92.5%pure, the old Sterling purity

4. 800: 80.0%pure, the lowest purity

Many sellers still try to confuse buyers by being economical with the truthwhen describing an article as:Fully Hallmarked!

If the numerical hallmark is not given, safely assume a lower grade silver.

If in doubt - ask!

Sterling quality silver(925) is 3rd out of the 4 grades available.

All UK silver articlesmust be fully hallmarked.

One has only to readthenumerical mark now tosee which quality of silver an article is made of.

The EU law has simplified matters: Buyers Beware!

For more detailed information click on the (me) icon at the top of this page under member information.

PLEASE CLICK YES BELOW IF YOU READ THIS, MANY THANKS!