1) When hallmarking is compulsory
UK hallmarking rules exist to protect buyers of precious metal items against fraud and misleading descriptions. The law and official guidance explain when precious metal articles must be hallmarked and how the requirement applies in practice.
2) Exemptions & weight thresholds
Some items can be exempt from compulsory hallmarking, including items under specific weight thresholds. The dealer’s notice provides a quick reference view of these exemption weights.
| Metal | Exemption threshold | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Below 7.78g | Items above this threshold generally must be hallmarked |
| Gold | Below 1.0g | Items above this threshold generally must be hallmarked |
| Palladium | Below 1.0g | Items above this threshold generally must be hallmarked |
| Platinum | Below 0.5g | Items above this threshold generally must be hallmarked |
If an item is marketed as a precious metal but has no hallmark, the correct question is: “Which official exemption applies here?”
3) Dealer notice requirement
A key compliance requirement is that dealers supplying precious metal items must display an approved notice explaining the meaning of approved hallmarks. This is designed to keep hallmark information visible to consumers.
Preview: London Dealer’s Notice (2025 A4)
4) Online selling checklist
If you’re buying online, these checks keep things simple:
- Product description: if it’s described as gold/silver/platinum/palladium, expect hallmarking unless an exemption applies.
- Exemption clarity: if no hallmark is shown, the seller should clearly state why (for example, weight threshold).
- Documentation: prefer retailers that link to official guidance and dealer notices for transparency.
- Verification habit: cross-check claims against official PDFs rather than marketing text.