Care and Cleaning
All of my jewellery is finished by hand and is not silver or rhodium plated. It should last in good condition for years if looked after.
If an item has a stone mounted in it then it will need extra care, but generally any proprietary silver cleaner is satisfactory, such as Goddard’s Silver Dip™.
My jewellery is marked with the traditional assay hallmarks when possible. Weight and size can dictate and is required for all items of silver weighing over 7.78 grams. These hallmarks will include my own maker’s mark.
Silver hallmarks are marks or stamps that are used to identify the purity and authenticity of silver items. These marks indicate the silver content of an object and provide information about the maker, the date of manufacture, and the place of origin.
Hallmarks typically consist of a series of symbols or letters that are stamped onto the silver object. Each symbol or letter has a specific meaning:
- Purity Mark: This mark indicates the percentage of pure silver in the item. For example, “925” signifies that the item is made of 92.5% pure silver, which is the standard for sterling silver.
- Maker’s Mark: This mark represents the initials, logo, or symbol of the individual or company responsible for creating the silver item. It helps identify the origin and authenticity of the piece.
- Assay Office Mark: This mark indicates the assay office where the silver item was tested and verified for its purity. Different countries have their own assay offices with unique symbols or letters.
- Date Mark: Some countries also include a mark that signifies the year or period in which the item was manufactured. These date marks vary according to the assay office’s regulations.
Understanding silver hallmarks can be valuable for collectors, buyers, and sellers of silver items. They provide important information about the quality, age, and origin of the piece, ensuring transparency and authenticity in the silver market.
Information on the meaning of assay marks can be found on the London Assay Office website at:
https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk
About silver
There are three different grades or purity of silver used in silversmithing and generally available in the UK, expressed in parts per thousand of silver (per mille):
• fine is near to pure silver and is at least 999 parts per thousand
• britannia is at least 958 parts per thousand
• sterling is at least 925 parts per thousand
Information sources
British Hallmarking Council:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/british-hallmarking-council
The Goldsmiths’ Company (including London Assay Office): https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/
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