Hallmarking Statistics: Maker’s Marks and Precious Metal Marks by the Numbers

Key numbers

How much the UK hallmarks

Every gold, silver, platinum and palladium article sold in the UK above a small weight must be tested and hallmarked by one of four assay offices. The British Hallmarking Council publishes their combined counts every year, so the UK’s numbers can be followed year by year.

1. 7.76 million

   The four UK assay offices dealt with about 7,757,000 articles in 2024, less than half the 16,113,000 they handled in 2009. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2009-2024

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2. 34.8 million (2001)

   The British Hallmarking Council says UK hallmarking volumes fell from a high of 34.8 million articles in 2001 to about 8 million in 2024. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2001 and 2024

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3. 3.46 million

   UK assay offices dealt with about 3,458,000 gold articles in 2024, down from 7,065,000 in 2009. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2009-2024

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4. 3.94 million

   UK assay offices dealt with about 3,942,000 silver articles in 2024, down from 8,782,000 in 2009; silver outnumbered gold in every year of the series except 2014, 2015 and 2016. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2009-2024

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5. 353,657

   UK assay offices dealt with 353,657 platinum articles in 2024; the series peaked at 386,264 in 2022, and platinum is the only metal handled in higher numbers in 2024 than in 2009 (266,071). British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2009-2024

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6. 3,064

   Palladium hallmarking in the UK peaked at 125,389 articles in 2012 and fell to 3,064 in 2024; the first palladium articles appear in the third quarter of 2009 (27,427), after zero in the first two quarters of that year. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2009-2024

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7. −32.2%

   UK hallmarking fell 32.2% to 5,879,162 articles in 2020, then rebounded 47.7% to 8,687,131 in 2021. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [3]Data: 2020-2021The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [2]Data: 2020-2021

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8. 4.09 million

   UK assay offices hallmarked 4,087,007 sterling silver (925) items in 2023, about half of all articles that year; the 2015-2023 high was 5,299,115 in 2022. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [4]Data: 2015-2023

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9. 2.09 million

   9 carat (375) is the UK's most-hallmarked gold standard: 2,090,529 items in 2023, down from 3,642,448 in 2015. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [4]Data: 2015-2023

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10. 8,020,089

    The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office reported 8,020,089 articles sent for hallmarking at all UK offices in 2023, down 17.7% from 9,748,288 in 2022. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [4]Data: 2015-2023

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1. 31%

   Edinburgh handled the largest share of all UK articles in 2024 (31%), followed by Birmingham (25%), London (23%) and Sheffield (20%); in 2010 Birmingham led with 34% and Edinburgh had 27%. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2010-2024 (selected years)

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2. 53%

   In 2024 Edinburgh handled 53% of UK silver articles, London handled 31% of gold articles, Birmingham 40.7% of platinum articles and Sheffield 61.4% of palladium articles. British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2024

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3. 2,951,237

   The BHC's 2024 Convention appendix lists 2,951,237 UK articles under the international Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metal, with Sheffield (1,036,727) ahead of London (922,088), Birmingham (586,022) and Edinburgh (406,400). British Hallmarking Council [1]Data: 2024

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What UK hallmarking law says

1. 17

   UK law recognizes 17 standards of fineness: gold 375, 585, 750, 916.6, 990 and 999; silver 800, 925, 958.4 and 999; platinum 850, 900, 950 and 999; and palladium 500, 950 and 999. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) [5]Data: current as of 2026

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2. 916.6

   Under UK law a carat description means gold of a set fineness (9 carats = 375, 14 = 585, 18 = 750, 22 = 916.6 parts per thousand), 'sterling' means silver of 925 and 'Britannia' means silver of 958.4. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) [6]Data: current as of 2026

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3. 7.78 g

   In the UK, articles below these metal weights need not be hallmarked: platinum 0.5 g, gold 1 g, palladium 1 g and silver 7.78 g. UK Assay Offices, published on GOV.UK [7]Data: current as of 2026

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4. 1999

   Since January 1, 1999 the UK date letter has been optional, and the numeric fineness mark (parts per thousand) has been compulsory. UK Assay Offices, published on GOV.UK [7]Data: 1999

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5. 2009

   Palladium was brought under the Hallmarking Act on July 22, 2009 by S.I. 2009/2040, with standards of 500, 950 and 999. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) [5]Data: 2009-2010

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6. 4

   The UK has four assay offices, each with its own mark: London (leopard's head), Birmingham (anchor), Sheffield (rose) and Edinburgh (castle). UK Assay Offices, published on GOV.UK [7]Data: current as of 2026

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7. Section 11

   Every UK dealer in precious metal articles must keep the British Hallmarking Council's notice explaining hallmarks on conspicuous display, and failing to do so is an offense. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) [8]Data: current as of 2026

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8. 10 years

   Counterfeiting hallmarks or dies in the UK carries up to 10 years' imprisonment on indictment; other Hallmarking Act offenses carry up to 2 years, and prosecutions must start within 3 years of the offense or 1 year of its discovery, whichever is earlier. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) [9]Data: current as of 2026 (statutory text)

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9. 1950

   An unhallmarked gold or silver article of minimum fineness made before 1950 (and not improperly altered since) may be sold as precious metal in the UK; the cut-off was 1920 until the law was amended. UK Assay Offices, published on GOV.UK [7]Data: current as of 2026

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Seven centuries of marks

The dates that shape what you see on old British silver and gold.

1. 1300

   A statute of Edward I in 1300 required gold and silver to be assayed and struck with the leopard's head, the first English hallmark, with silver at the sterling standard of 92.5%. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [10]Data: 1300

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2. 1363

   An ordinance of Edward III in 1363 introduced the maker's mark, required alongside the leopard's head. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [10]Data: 1363

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3. 1478

   The date letter was introduced in London in 1478, completing the core hallmark of leopard's head, maker's mark and date letter. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [10]Data: 1478

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4. 1697–1720

   From 1697 the compulsory standard for silver plate was raised to 95.84% (Britannia standard) to stop coins being melted down; sterling was restored in 1720, with Britannia kept as an alternative. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [10]Data: 1697-1720

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5. 1773

   An Act of May 1773 established the Birmingham and Sheffield assay offices. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [10]Data: 1773

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6. 1784–1890

   The sovereign's head 'duty mark', showing tax had been paid on gold and silver plate, was struck from 1784 until the duty was abolished in 1890. The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London) [10]Data: 1784-1890

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7. 1884

   The Newcastle assay office, established in 1702, closed in 1884. Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record (Newcastle City Council) [11]Data: 1884

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8. 1962

   The Chester assay office closed in 1962 and its work was transferred to Birmingham. Victoria County History via British History Online [12]Data: 1962

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9. 1964

   Scotland had a second assay office in Glasgow from 1819 to 1964; since then Edinburgh, where marking dates back to at least 1457, has been Scotland's only assay office. The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh [13]Data: 1457-1964

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The international Hallmarking Convention

1. 1972

   The Hallmarking Convention was signed in Vienna in November 1972 and entered into force in 1975. Hallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals) [14]Data: 1972-1975

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2. 22

   The Hallmarking Convention has 22 Contracting States, the most recent being Italy, which acceded on December 15, 2023. Hallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals) [15]Data: current as of 2026

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3. 1976

   The UK signed the Convention on November 15, 1972, ratified it on April 1, 1976, and it entered into force for the UK on June 1, 1976. Hallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals) [16]Data: 1976

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4. 5 million

   About 5 million articles a year are marked with the Convention's Common Control Mark, whose design is a balance (scales). Hallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals) [14]Data: current as of 2026

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5. 375 / 800

   Under the Convention's technical decisions in force from October 1, 2026, the minimum standards are platinum 500, gold 375, palladium 500 and silver 800, the recognized silver standards are 800, 830, 835, 925, 958, 990 and 999, and no negative tolerance is allowed. Hallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals) [17]Data: in force 1 October 2026

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Purity marks in United States law

The United States has no government assay office and no compulsory hallmarking. Instead, federal law controls what a quality mark may claim, and the Federal Trade Commission’s Jewelry Guides define the trade terms.

1. 1906

   The National Gold and Silver Stamping Act, now 15 U.S.C. 294-300, was enacted on June 13, 1906. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [18]Data: 1906

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2. 925 / 900

   U.S. law reserves 'sterling' for silver of 925 parts per thousand and 'coin' for 900, each with a 4-part-per-thousand allowance. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [19]Data: current as of 2026

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3. 3‰

   Under U.S. law a gold article may assay no more than 3 parts per thousand below its marked fineness (tested without solder); including solder, the limit is 3 parts per thousand for watchcases and flatware and 7 for other articles. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [20]Data: current as of 2026 (since 1981)

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4. ½ karat

   Before the Gold Labeling Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-450), U.S. law let a gold article test up to one-half karat below its mark (the statute said "one-half of one carat"); the Act replaced that allowance with three parts per thousand. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [20]Data: 1976 (effective 1981)

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5. 1961

   Since a 1961 amendment (Pub. L. 87-354), anyone who stamps a gold or silver quality mark on goods shipped across U.S. state lines must also apply a registered trademark or their name next to it. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [21]Data: 1961

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6. $500

   A knowing violation of the U.S. gold and silver stamping law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to three months in prison, or both. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [22]Data: current as of 2026 (statutory text)

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7. $5,000

   It is illegal in the U.S. to stamp gold or silver with 'United States assay' or any mark implying government certification of fineness, punishable by up to $5,000 and a year in prison. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code) [24]Data: current as of 2026 (statutory text)Cornell LII [23]Data: current as of 2026 (statutory text)

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8. 2018

   The FTC's current Jewelry Guides (16 CFR Part 23) were last revised in a final rule published and effective August 16, 2018 (83 FR 40667). Federal Trade Commission, via eCFR (National Archives) [25]Data: 2018

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9. 10K

   The 2018 revision dropped the FTC's old 10-karat threshold: gold alloy above or below 10 karats may be called gold if an equally conspicuous karat mark precedes it, and silver below 925 may be called silver with a parts-per-thousand mark (e.g., '750 silver'). Federal Trade Commission, Federal Register [26]Data: 2018

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10. 1/20

    Under the FTC Guides, 'gold filled' requires a mechanically bonded layer of at least 10K gold making up at least 1/20 of the metal weight; 'rolled gold plate' or 'gold overlay' may be used from 1/40. Federal Trade Commission, via eCFR (National Archives) [25]Data: current as of 2026

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11. 0.175 µm

    Under the FTC Guides, 'gold electroplate' needs at least 10K gold equivalent to 0.175 microns of fine gold, and 'heavy gold electroplate' needs the equivalent of 2.5 microns. Federal Trade Commission, via eCFR (National Archives) [25]Data: current as of 2026

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12. 2.5 µm

    Under the FTC Guides, 'vermeil' means sterling silver coated with gold of at least 10 karats, equivalent to at least 2.5 microns of fine gold. Federal Trade Commission, via eCFR (National Archives) [25]Data: current as of 2026

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13. 950

    Under the FTC Guides, unqualified 'platinum' means at least 950 parts per thousand; 850 and 900 must carry the number (e.g., '900Plat.'); and below 500 parts per thousand the word may not be used at all. Federal Trade Commission, via eCFR (National Archives) [25]Data: current as of 2026

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14. No rule

    The FTC Guides set no fineness thresholds for palladium; the 2018 revision declined to add palladium-specific guidance, and the Guides only list 'Pall.' or 'Pd.' as accepted abbreviations. Federal Trade Commission, Federal Register [26]Data: 2018

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The Mark Index database by the numbers

Original counts from our own research files: every maker entry is built from at least two sources and shows them on its page. Counted on October 10, 2026 from all 113 researched entries, published and scheduled.

1. 113

   sourced entries in The Mark Index’s maker database: 108 makers and 5 national marking systems (such as British sterling hallmarks and German 800 silver). 36 are published as of October 24, 2026; the rest publish one per weekday. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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2. 4 materials

   covered: 29 costume jewelry makers, 29 pottery and porcelain, 28 stoneware and 22 silver. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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3. 86%

   of the 108 makers are American (93); 5 are British, and the rest are from Denmark, France, Germany (2 each), plus Spain, Mexico, Japan, one firm in both the United States and Canada (1 each). The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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4. 1891

   is the median founding year of the makers, taking the first year in each entry’s active dates. The oldest is Meissen (1710); the youngest is Kenneth Jay Lane (1963). The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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5. 75%

   of the makers were founded between 1850 and 1949 (42 in 1850–1899 and 39 in 1900–1949); 7 predate 1800. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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6. 26 of 108

   makers (24%) are still working or have a brand still in use, according to the sources for each entry. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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7. 569

   maker’s marks are recorded for the 108 makers, an average of 5.3 per maker (median 5); the most is 13, for Napier. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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8. 89%

   of those marks (506 of 569) carry a sourced date or date range. That is the point of the database: a mark’s wording, shape and method usually narrow when a piece was made. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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9. 397

   marks have a recorded marking method. The commonest are die-struck (129), impressed (81), printed backstamp (73) and stamped ink (36). The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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10. 39%

    of pottery and porcelain marks are printed backstamps (73 of 185), while 43 of 69 stoneware marks are impressed into the clay and 129 of 196 costume jewelry marks are die-struck into the metal. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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11. 26%

    of recorded marks include a picture or symbol as well as words (148 of 569). Monograms lead (64), then crowns (21) and lions (17). 51 marks (9%) have no words at all. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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12. 420

    source links back the 113 entries, from 136 different websites: an average of 3.7 per entry, and never fewer than 2. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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13. 93%

    of maker entries (100 of 108) include a note on what the sources leave uncertain or disagree about; 78 entries list look-alike marks or known reproductions. The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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14. 507

    maker’s marks are charted in our four mark guides alone: costume jewelry (30 makers, 197 marks), Staffordshire pottery (29 makers, 145 marks), American art pottery (25 makers, 87 marks) and glass (24 makers, 78 marks). The Mark Index database [27]Data: October 2026

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How to cite this page

For educators and librarians

• For a class or research guide: the UK series runs from 2009 to 2024 without a gap, and the full table above can be copied into a spreadsheet.
• For collectors’ clubs: pair this page with our free purity mark decoder, which explains 41 marks from 925 to 84 zolotnik.
• Corrections: if a newer report changes a number, tell us and we will update it and note the change.

How we checked these numbers

Every external figure comes from a primary or institutional source that we downloaded and saved on October 10, 2026: UK legislation and the British Hallmarking Council’s annual reports (published on GOV.UK), the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, the Hallmarking Convention’s own site, the U.S. Code and the eCFR text of the FTC’s Jewelry Guides. Two historical closure dates (Chester and Newcastle) come from the Victoria County History and the Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record. For each number we kept the exact sentence or table row it came from, then re-opened every source and re-read every number before publishing.

Where sources disagree we say so. The council gives the UK peak as 34.8 million in 2001 in its 2024 report, but as 35,245,000 in 2003 in its 2010 report; the Goldsmiths’ Company’s yearly totals run slightly higher than the council’s. Penalties are the amounts printed in each statute; later general sentencing laws may allow higher fines. Original counts were computed from the database files behind our maker pages, which are published with their sources. Last updated October 10, 2026.

Sources

1. PrimaryBritish Hallmarking Council. British Hallmarking Council: Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
2. PrimaryThe Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London). Annual UK Hallmarking Figures for 2021. assayofficelondon.co.uk
3. PrimaryThe Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London). Annual UK Hallmarking Figures for 2020. assayofficelondon.co.uk
4. PrimaryThe Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London). Annual UK Hallmarking Figures for 2023. assayofficelondon.co.uk
5. Primarylegislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Hallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 2 (Approved Hallmarks). legislation.gov.uk
6. Primarylegislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Hallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 1 Part III. legislation.gov.uk
7. PrimaryUK Assay Offices, published on GOV.UK. Hallmarking Guidance Notes (Information from the Assay Offices of Great Britain), November 2022. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
8. Primarylegislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Hallmarking Act 1973, section 11. legislation.gov.uk
9. Primarylegislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Hallmarking Act 1973, section 6 and Schedule 3. legislation.gov.uk
10. PrimaryThe Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London). History of Hallmarking. assayofficelondon.co.uk
11. PrimaryTyne and Wear Historic Environment Record (Newcastle City Council). Newcastle, Royal mint (HER 7897). sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk
12. PrimaryVictoria County History via British History Online. Economic infrastructure and institutions: Craft guilds, in A History of the County of Chester: Volume 5 Part 2 (2005). british-history.ac.uk
13. PrimaryThe Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh. History (Edinburgh Assay Office historical database). archive.edinburghassayoffice.co.uk
14. PrimaryHallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals). What is the Convention?. hallmarkingconvention.org
15. PrimaryHallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals). Members. hallmarkingconvention.org
16. PrimaryHallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals). Accession Dates. hallmarkingconvention.org
17. PrimaryHallmarking Convention (Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals). Decisions on Technical Matters, PMC/W 2/2001 (Rev. 13). hallmarkingconvention.org
18. PrimaryLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code). 15 U.S. Code § 294 – Importation or transportation of falsely marked gold or silver ware prohibited. law.cornell.edu
19. PrimaryLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code). 15 U.S. Code § 296 – Standard of fineness of silver articles; deviation. law.cornell.edu
20. PrimaryLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code). 15 U.S. Code § 295 – Standard of fineness of gold articles; deviation. law.cornell.edu
21. PrimaryLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code). 15 U.S. Code § 297 – Stamping plated articles. law.cornell.edu
22. PrimaryLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code). 15 U.S. Code § 298 – Violations of law. law.cornell.edu
23. PrimaryCornell LII. 15 U.S. Code § 293 (penalties). law.cornell.edu
24. PrimaryLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (text of the U.S. Code). 15 U.S. Code § 291 and § 293. law.cornell.edu
25. PrimaryFederal Trade Commission, via eCFR (National Archives). 16 CFR Part 23 – Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov
26. PrimaryFederal Trade Commission, Federal Register. Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (final guides), 83 FR 40667. federalregister.gov
27. PrimaryThe Mark Index. Maker database (113 sourced entries), counts computed October 10, 2026. Sources & Methodology. themarkindex.com