Jewellery hallmarks: how to find them?
Most of you have probably heard the word hallmark. It is a small symbol on a piece of jewellery that carries important information. Thanks to the hallmark, you can find out the origin, purity and, above all, the authenticity of the jewellery. These small markings can therefore protect you from investing in poor quality goods. We therefore recommend that you familiarise yourself with them before buying jewellery. We are here to help! A hallmark is a tiny mark on precious metal jewellery. It indicates the purity and provenance of the metal, as well as confirming the authenticity of the jewellery. You can look for it differently on each piece. However, it is always stamped in places that do not interfere with the design of the jewellery, but are also easy to trace. Hallmarks are usually found on the inside of rings, on the clasps of necklaces and bracelets, and on the back of earrings and pendants. At this point, you know where to look for hallmarks. Now you just need to understand what each hallmark means. In the Czech Republic, there are three main types of hallmark that will help you understand the information about a piece of jewellery: state hallmarks, the purity hallmark identification hallmark
What is a hallmark and where to find it?
Types of hallmarks and differences
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State hallmark
The state hallmark is an official mark stamped by the Assay Office of the Czech Republic. It guarantees that the jewellery is of the specified material and purity. This hallmark is one of the most important indicators of the authenticity of jewellery. It protects consumers from buying poor quality or counterfeit products. As well as verifying quality, some of these hallmarks can also be used to identify the town in which the hallmark was made. So if you are planning to buy silver, platinum and gold jewellery, make sure you remember this information.
What does the state hallmark look like?
Some have a rabbit's head, others an eagle or even a crown. Some marks will be in an oval frame, others in a hexagon. A gold hallmark is guaranteed to be different from a platinum one. And 14k gold won't have the same mark as 24k gold.
In this graphic you can see the Czech hallmarks*, which tell you the type of main metal the jewellery is made of and its purity.
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Hallmark of purity
This hallmark contains a number that indicates the percentage of precious metal in the alloy. It contains a number that expresses how many parts of precious metal are contained in one thousand parts of the alloy. For example, the number 585 indicates that 58.5% (585 parts in 1000) of the alloy is gold. These numbers allow you to quickly determine the quality of a piece of jewellery.
How do you understand the purity numbers on gold?
999/1000 (24 carat) – This is pure gold. It is mainly used in investment products. Because it contains almost no impurities, it is too soft to be used in jewellery.
750/1000 (18 carat) – Contains 75% gold. 18k gold is used to make luxury jewellery for the most discerning. However, don't be fooled, the gold content in 18k jewellery is the highest, but that doesn't mean it's the most durable. 18k gold is simply softer.
585/1000 (14 carat) – Contains 58.5% gold.14k gold combines quality and durability, which is why it is the most common choice of all gold jewellery buyers. We also recommend this option as it is the most durable.
375/1000 (9 carat) – Contains 37.5% gold. It is mainly used for less expensive jewellery and does not need to be hallmarked. Because it is a lower quality alloy, we do not use 9k gold at Mialis.
The purity mark therefore gives you the assurance that the jewellery contains exactly the amount of gold declared by the manufacturer.
Identification hallmark
The hallmark is a unique symbol that provides information about the origin of the jewellery. Each manufacturer, including Mialis, or importer registered with the Assay Office of the Czech Republic has its own mark, which is unique. Often it is an initial together with a frame or a special symbol – no two marks are the same.
A public list of all registered marks can be found on the website of the Assay Office. This makes it easy to identify the maker or importer of a particular piece of jewellery.
Classification of hallmarks
Producer's mark: This is for the manufacturer of the jewellery, identifies the manufacturer and confirms their responsibility for the quality and authenticity of the jewellery.
Responsibility (import) mark: This is given to importers who buy jewellery abroad and place it on the Czech market.
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What to look for when buying jewellery?
Hallmarks are one of the most important indicators of the quality and authenticity of jewellery. They do not always appear on all pieces of jewellery. In the Czech Republic, these rules are laid down in the Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metal. If a piece of jewellery is marked with a state hallmark, the presence of a purity hallmark is not necessary. However, if a piece of jewellery does not have a hallmark, it should at least have a purity hallmark. There are, of course, exceptions, such as small pieces of jewellery where it is not technically possible to stamp a hallmark. However, it is always worth being extra cautious and asking the seller for confirmation of purity and provenance.
Our jewellery has the hallmark of quality
All our jewellery meets the requirements of the Czech Assay Office. To check the authenticity you can visit the official website of the Assay Office and enter "Mialis" in the form. We are registered and each of our products is carefully marked according to legal standards. As a result, you can be sure that when you visit our e-shop or the Mialis jewellery store, you will only be getting quality and genuine jewellery that will meet your expectations. So don't be afraid and choose your dream jewellery in our jewellery shop.
