Silver hallmarks and metal marks
British assay office marks and date letters, sterling versus silver plate, continental silver standards and gold karat stamps explained.
Hallmarking rules come from the UK assay offices, the Goldsmiths' Company and the laws that set each standard. A hallmark records what an assay office tested; a maker's stamp alone is only a claim.
- British silver hallmarks: how to read the marks on your silverHow to read British silver hallmarks: the sponsor's mark, lion passant and 925, assay office marks from London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh, and old marks.
- Hallmark date letters: how to date British silver step by stepHow hallmark date letters work and how to read them: letter, case, typeface and shield shape, the assay year, the 1975 and 1999 changes, and checks that confirm the year.
- Sterling silver vs silver plate: how to tell them apartHow to tell sterling silver from silver plate: what 925, STERLING, EPNS, EP and Sheffield plate marks mean, US and UK legal rules, wear clues and safe tests.
- Gold jewelry marks: what 14K, 585, 750, GF and HGE meanWhat the stamps inside gold jewelry mean: karat and millesimal marks (10K, 14K, 585, 750), gold filled, rolled gold plate, HGE and vermeil, plus UK hallmarks.
About valuesEstimates are not appraisals. Prices depend on maker, age, condition, rarity, provenance and the market at the time of sale, and neither an app scan nor a guide can replace an expert who handles the object. For anything that may be valuable, or before you sell, insure or buy at a high price, consult a qualified appraiser or a reputable auction house.
Identify your antique in seconds
Antique ID identifies an item from a photo, reads visible maker's marks, suggests a period and gives an estimated value range, so you know whether it deserves a closer look.
