Usually, once a person has had some lessons in silversmithing in the UK, they tend to think about selling some of their creations. While this is okay for small rings, once you are creating heavier objects such as bangles then legally you must get your work hallmarked.
Hallmarking is the first product guarantee that we know of dating back to the 1400's in the UK. Pieces of jewellery, silverware and other precious metal artifacts are sent to Assay Offices for testing the purity of the metal. Only once testing has been carried out will your item be stamped with your makers mark, purity mark, date letter mark and the mark of the assay office that carried out the test.
To get a makers mark you have to apply to the assay office of your choice who will send you a form to fill in. The form will ask for name, address and other things including what you want your makers mark to look like. It can be initials set in a range of designs or perhaps a logo that you have designed. They will also ask what size you want the assay marks to be stamped as. For people making earrings, they usually require a slightly smaller makers mark so that it can successfully be stamped onto the earring hook/pin. Cost of registering at an assay office is around £75 plus vat and the cost of the makers mark is also about £75 plus vat depending on the size you decide you want.
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