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 right 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 keeps 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.