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Published: 19 Aug 2024
Testing and hallmarking precious metals for over 700 years
The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office is where hallmarking began, and we have been testing and hallmarking precious metals for over 700 years.
We have been responsible for guaranteeing the purity of items made of precious metals since 1300, when the hallmarking statute was passed. We became the official ‘home of hallmarking’ in 1478, establishing the country’s first Assay Office at Goldsmiths’ Hall London, which still operates today.
The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office is where hallmarking began, and we have been testing and hallmarking precious metals for over 700 years.
We have been responsible for guaranteeing the purity of items made of precious metals since 1300, when the hallmarking statute was passed. We became the official ‘home of hallmarking’ in 1478, establishing the country’s first Assay Office at Goldsmiths’ Hall London, which still operates today.
Our hallmark and our trade depend on integrity and trust, which underpin all our work and what we stand for.
The Goldsmiths' Company
Today, the Goldsmiths’ Company family is made up of the Goldsmiths’ Company, the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity, and the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
We work together and collaborate to support the trade, from training and development to investing in makers who live, work, create and learn in the UK; and to support civil society, from grant-making through the Charity to education provided by the Centre, and by upholding standards of hallmarking through the Assay Office.
The purpose of the Goldsmiths' Company is to contribute to British national life by supporting its related crafts, industry and trade. Today, the Goldsmiths’ Company family is made up of the Goldsmiths’ Company, the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity, and the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
We work together and collaborate to support the trade, from training and development to investing in makers who live, work, create and learn in the UK; and to support civil society, from grant-making through the Charity to education provided by the Centre, and by upholding standards of hallmarking through the Assay Office and through wider charitable and educational activity.
The main objectives of the Company are:
- To support the precious metal and jewellery crafts, industry and trade through training, education and promotion, primarily through The Goldsmiths’ Centre;
- To operate the Assay Office, and test the coinage of the realm annually through the Trial of the Pyx;
- To fund and support the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity in achieving its charitable objectives;
- To build on our traditions to enhance our contribution to life, work, education and culture in the City of London and more widely;
- To manage our financial affairs to secure the long-term future of the Company and its activities.
The Goldsmiths' Centre
Business Rules for our Services
Please read our guidelines which help you submit your work to us correctly.
Please read our guidelines to help you submit your work to us correctly.
Click here for this information.
2024 date letter
The date letter for 2024 is a lower case z.
A non-compulsory mark, the date letter changes annually on 1 January. The font, case, and shield shape all change so each can only indicate one specific year.
The date letter for 2024 is a lower case z.
A non-compulsory mark, the date letter changes annually on 1 January. The font, case, and shield shape all change so each can only indicate one specific year.
Learn about the evolution of the hallmark and the component marks in the article ‘Hallmark as Hero’ by Goldsmiths’ Company Deputy Librarian.
Coronation commemorative mark announced by the British Hallmarking Council to honour His Majesty King Charles III
To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III a commemorative hallmark has been approved.
Based on a medal by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS and using artwork supplied by Thomas Fattorini, the mark depicts the King’s head against an oval background. It can be applied to gold, silver, platinum or palladium items, by any of the four UK assay offices. The approval process involved the assay offices considering a selection of possible designs and submitting two to the British Hallmarking Council which chose the design depicting the King’s head.
Read in full here.
