A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal mostly to certify the content of noble metals such as platinum gold silver and in some nations palladium in a more general sense the term hallmark can also be used to refer to any distinguishing characteristic.
What does a white gold hallmark look like.
Eventually all white gold jewellery begins to show yellow gold colour.
Have a look at your piece of jewellery.
White gold coated in rhodium image credit wikimedia commons.
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.
Look for markings like pt or pt followed by a number to indicate platinum metal.
Over time the rhodium coating becomes worn revealing the yellow gold colour underneath.
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.
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.
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.
Why does white gold eventually start to look like yellow gold.
The assay office marks for gold would be in a square shield with chamfered corners and in a blunt oval for silver.