Hallmarking

If I buy, say an unhallmarked band of gold, do stupendously brilliant and
gorgeous things with gemstones etc., and make an article worthy of Hatton
Garden. How much does it cost to get it hallmarked, or do I have to be an
affiliated member of a jewellery organisation to do this? I know its jumping
the gun a bit as I haven't bought anything yet, but I do intend to thoroughly
research this hobby nefore emabarking on anything.

Cheers
Vee

"GOOSEY" wrote in message
...
If I buy, say an unhallmarked band of gold, do stupendously brilliant and
gorgeous things with gemstones etc., and make an article worthy of Hatton
Garden. How much does it cost to get it hallmarked, or do I have to be
an
affiliated member of a jewellery organisation to do this? I know its
jumping
the gun a bit as I haven't bought anything yet, but I do intend to
thoroughly
research this hobby nefore emabarking on anything.

Cheers
Vee



You first have to register with an Assay Office, and this costs £40 +VAT for
10 years (currently £23.50 renewal). Second, you must have a punch made
containing your Maker's Mark - don't know the cost, maybe £30 or so.. This
mark must be the one you register with the Assay Office. Once you have done
this you can then take or send items for marking. There is a fixed fee for
this, plus a fee for each individual item. The fixed fee applies to a
particular metal grade, ie. 18ct gold, silver, or platinum. If all the
items are the same grade you just get one fixed charge, otherwise you get
charged for each different grade. The fixed charge is currently £15 per
grade and the item charge is around 50p to 60p. So, to get your first ring
hallmarked, reckon on £40 + £15 + 60p + cost of punch + post and packing +
VAT. which works out at around £110 assuming the punch costs around £30.
After this, each parcel costs around £25, assuming all items are the same
grade and the PnP consists of registered parcels.
I hope this helps and doesn't put you off.

--

Regards,
Gary Wooding

Subject: Hallmarking
From: "Wooding"
Date: 08/10/03 16:06 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

VAT. which works out at around £110 assuming the punch costs around £30.
After this, each parcel costs around £25, assuming all items are the same
grade and the PnP consists of registered parcels.
I hope this helps and doesn't put you off.

--

Regards,
Gary Wooding

Not at all! I made and sold earrings as a teenager, all of the stuff I bought
was already hallmarked (silver) though. Thanks for filling me in on the pros
and cons.

Vee x