A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal mostly to certify the content of noble metals such as platinum gold silver and in some nations palladium in a more general sense the term hallmark can also be used to refer to any distinguishing characteristic.
What does a white gold hallmark look like.
I know of no specific hallmark that differentiates gold alloys that appear more like silver platinum or palladium than the alloys that have the typical yellow color of gold.
It s a legal requirement for silver over 7 78g gold and palladium over 1g and platinum over 0 5g to have a uk recognised hallmark.
Technically hallmarks are applied to precious metals items by indep.
Import marks from 1999 following a ruling of the european court of justice the uk is required to accept national hallmarks of member states who provide an equivalent guarantee.
Over time the rhodium coating becomes worn revealing the yellow gold colour underneath.
Why does white gold eventually start to look like yellow gold.
Gold traders has compiled a gold hallmark identification wizard to help decipher the markings that are stamped on your item.
Have a look at your piece of jewellery.
Look for other hallmarks or stamps that indicate plated gold such as hge gold filled plate rgp ep or 1 10 the fractions indicate the ratio of gold to alloy such as copper.
The assay office marks for gold would be in a square shield with chamfered corners and in a blunt oval for silver.
The uk hallmarking act 1973 states that it is an offence for any person in the course of trade or business to describe an un hallmarked article as being wholly or partly made of precious metal s or to.
White gold coated in rhodium image credit wikimedia commons.