It s a legal requirement for silver over 7 78g gold and palladium over 1g and platinum over 0 5g to have a uk recognised hallmark.
What does a white gold hallmark look like.
If it was made in a country that adheres to the convention on the control and marking of articles of precious metals otherwise known as the common control mark you should find a set of hallmarks stamps.
Have a look at your piece of jewellery.
The uk hallmarking act 1973 states that it is an offence for any person in the course of trade or business to describe an un hallmarked article as being wholly or partly made of precious metal s or to.
Import marks from 1999 following a ruling of the european court of justice the uk is required to accept national hallmarks of member states who provide an equivalent guarantee.
Gold traders has compiled a gold hallmark identification wizard to help decipher the markings that are stamped on your item.
Look for other hallmarks or stamps that indicate plated gold such as hge gold filled plate rgp ep or 1 10 the fractions indicate the ratio of gold to alloy such as copper.
White gold coated in rhodium image credit wikimedia commons.
Look for markings like pt or pt followed by a number to indicate platinum metal.
Technically hallmarks are applied to precious metals items by indep.
The assay office marks for gold would be in a square shield with chamfered corners and in a blunt oval for silver.
Over time the rhodium coating becomes worn revealing the yellow gold colour underneath.
Why does white gold eventually start to look like yellow gold.