Punch Mark / Hallmark
Also: Punch mark, Fineness stamp, Assay mark, Control mark
A hallmark is an official or company test mark that permanently and tamper-proof certifies the fineness and origin of a precious-metal object.
A hallmark (also called a punch mark) is a struck or stamped mark on objects made of gold, silver, platinum or palladium. It confirms officially, or through a recognised assayer, that the fineness of the metal matches the stated value. In the English-speaking world this system is called hallmarking - the term derives from the London Goldsmiths' Hall, where precious-metal goods have been assayed since the 14th century.
Structure of a hallmark system
A complete set of marks usually contains several individual symbols which together provide a seamless assay history:
| Mark | Meaning | Example (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Fineness mark | Metal content in parts per thousand or carat | 750 (18 carat gold) |
| Assay office mark | Identifies the assay office | Anchor (Birmingham) |
| Maker's / sponsor's mark | Registered code of the submitter | Letter punch |
| Date letter | Year of assay (historic, partly abolished) | A-Z per cycle |
| Optional additional marks | Anniversaries, import goods, CCM mark | Crown, orb |
The mark for fineness is the most important element: it provides legally binding evidence of how much pure metal the piece contains. The most common gold alloys are:
- 333 ‰ (8 carat) - lower limit for "gold" in some countries
- 585 ‰ (14 carat) - the best-selling jewellery standard in Central Europe
- 750 ‰ (18 carat) - high-quality jewellery and watch cases
- 916 ‰ (22 carat) - classic investment coins (Sovereign, Krugerrand)
- 999 ‰ - fine gold, investment coins and bars
International harmonisation
The Vienna Convention (CCM, 1972) allows member states to accept a uniform "Common Control Mark" - a balance mark with a fineness indication. Goods bearing this mark may be sold without renewed national assay. Its roughly 20 members include Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Finland and the United Kingdom. Malta operates within the EU framework and applies EU standards for the marking of precious-metal goods.
For investment coins, the minting mint assumes the guarantee function of the hallmark: the Krugerrand carries no classic hallmark, because the Rand Refinery, as a state-recognised refinery, itself vouches for the fineness.
Why hallmarks matter when buying
When purchasing jewellery, scrap gold or coins, the hallmark enables a quick initial assessment of the material value - even before a device such as an X-ray fluorescence analyser (XRF) is used. With the melt value calculator you can immediately determine the pure metal value on the basis of the read-off fineness.
If a hallmark is missing or appears to have been struck later, caution is advised. Further authenticity testing - for example by density measurement or ping test - provides clarity. The current gold price sets the reference value for the valuation.
Hallmarking obligations
In many EU countries there is no statutory hallmarking obligation for jewellery - the manufacturer or dealer bears civil-law responsibility for the fineness indication. A voluntary hallmark by a recognised assay office nonetheless creates trust. Other countries (such as the United Kingdom) operate a mandatory hallmarking regime above certain weight thresholds, administered by official assay offices.
In brief
Hallmarks are the oldest and most reliable system for controlling the fineness of precious metals - a small stamp with great legal effect. Anyone valuing jewellery or broken gold first reads the hallmark and then calculates the material value.